Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has spearheaded a delegation of Nigerian officials to initiate the repatriation of refugees who fled the Boko Haram insurgency to Baga Sola, Chad. This effort marks a significant step toward addressing the displacement crisis caused by the insurgency that has affected thousands in the Lake Chad Basin region.
The first phase of the repatriation will see 1,768 families, totaling 7,790 individuals, return to Nigeria. Most of these refugees are indigenes of Borno State who have been displaced for nearly a decade due to the insurgency. The delegation also included Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and the Federal Commissioner/CEO of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
Governor Zulum, alongside the Governor of Lac Province, Saleh Haggar Tidjani of Chad, participated in the signing of a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Chad, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Baga Sola. This agreement formalizes the repatriation process, which will be voluntary for those who wish to return to Nigeria.
Governor Zulum expressed his gratitude to the government of Chad for its hospitality in sheltering displaced Nigerians over the years. Dr. Sununu praised Zulum’s leadership throughout the crisis, highlighting his commitment to collaboration between the federal and state governments in responding to the challenges posed by the insurgency.
The repatriation initiative brings renewed hope to thousands of displaced persons seeking to rebuild their lives after years of instability and uncertainty.
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