Over 300 Nigerian Refugees Return Home from Cameroon After 11 Years
A significant milestone in the restoration of peace has occurred in Borno State. The Nigerian Army facilitated the safe return of over 300 refugees from Cameroon this week. These citizens had lived in exile for over a decade due to insurgency-related displacements. Specifically, they returned to Gwoza Local Government Area after fleeing their ancestral homes in 2014. The Joint Task Force of Operation Hadin Kai led this critical repatriation exercise on Monday.
Troops from Sector 1 provided essential security cover for the cross-border movement into Nigeria. They collaborated with the Civilian Joint Task Force and local vigilante groups during the operation. This effort highlights the growing civil-military cooperation aimed at regional stabilization in the North-east. The returnees journeyed from the Minawawu camp in Cameroon through the Kirawa border crossing. Consequently, their arrival in Pulka town was met with emotional celebrations and structured reception protocols.
The Borno State Government and federal agencies coordinated the distribution of immediate relief materials. Representative of Governor Babagana Zulum, Engineer Wakilbe, led the high-powered delegation to receive the returnees. Each household head received ₦500,000 in cash support to begin rebuilding their lives. Furthermore, wives were allocated ₦50,000 each, while families received mattresses, wrappers, and food supplies. The National Commission for Refugees also provided essential items like rice, beans, and cooking oil.
Medical screening and routine immunisations are currently underway for all returnees at the reception center. Military medical personnel are working alongside local health officials to ensure everyone is fit. This repatriation marks the first convoy in the fourth phase of a larger exercise. Authorities emphasized that all refugees returned voluntarily after assessing the improved security situation at home. They noted that sustained military offensives have created a safer environment for these displaced communities.
This successful operation signals a renewed hope for thousands still living in foreign camps. International organizations like the UNHCR and IOM participated in observing the humanitarian and security protocols. The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its readiness to facilitate additional batches of returnees in the coming weeks. For many, this return represents the closing of a painful chapter of displacement and uncertainty. Home is finally breathing again as communities once fractured by conflict begin to mend.