Over 120,000 Nigerian refugees currently residing in Cameroon have issued a heartfelt plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging his intervention to facilitate their return to their ancestral homes in Borno State, Nigeria.
The call was conveyed through a letter addressed to President Tinubu by Mr. Luka Isaac, the president of the Nigerian Refugees in Cameroon (NRC). Isaac emphasized the dire conditions faced by the refugees, who hail from Gwoza East in Borno State, encompassing 21 communities including Arganjara, Agapalawa, Amuda, and 15 other villages along the border with Cameroon.
Highlighting the ongoing occupation of their ancestral homes by Boko Haram terrorists since 2013, Isaac underscored the urgency of their situation. He lamented the harsh living conditions endured by the refugees at the Minawao Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, emphasizing their inability to return home due to security concerns.
In their plea, the refugees implored the Federal Government and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to provide adequate compensation for their losses, including general damages to their property in Gwoza local council. Isaac emphasized the need for compensation to address the untold hardships, mental trauma, and disruption of family life experienced during their displacement in the Cameroonian IDP camp.
Furthermore, the refugees outlined conditions for their return to Nigeria, including improved security measures in Gwoza East through the deployment of additional soldiers and enhanced fighting equipment. They also called for the establishment of IDP camps equipped with essential infrastructure for water supply, education, and healthcare services.
Describing their plight in the Cameroon camp, Isaac recounted the initial support received upon their arrival in 2013, which has since diminished, leaving them vulnerable to hunger and inadequate healthcare services.
