Zulum leads delegation to repatriate 7,790 refugees from Chad
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum was in Chad together with Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu to finalise arrangements for the voluntary return of 7,790 Nigerian refugees.
A total of 1,768 families comprising 7,790 people will return to Nigeria in the first batch of the repatriation exercise.
The delegation which included officials of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, met with the Chadian officials at Baga Sola, where a tripartite agreement was signed between the governments of Nigeria, Chad and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
Sununu signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, while the Governor of Lac Province, Saleh Haggar Tidjani signed for the Republic of Chad, and Jerome Merlin, Second Rep UNHCR in Baga Sola, signed for the UN refugee agency.
The Syndicate reports that the affected refugees, mostly from Borno State, have been in Chad for more than a decade after escaping from Boko Haram crisis.
Many communities have been displaced by the years of insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
The Nigerian delegation said only those that have voluntarily indicated interest in returning will be repatriated.
Both Sununu and Zulum expressed gratitude to the government of Chad for giving shelter to thousands of displaced Nigerians for over a decade.
The paid tribute to Zulum for standing up at all times for displaced persons and others facing humanitarian crisis.
He said, “I want to thank the Executive Governor of Borno State for showing leadership during crises and serving as a role model in terms of complete collaboration with the federal government and for providing all the necessary support.”
