Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum, has led the repatriation of 7,790 Nigerian refugees from Baga Sola, Chad, marking a step after years of displacement due to the Boko Haram insurgency.
Speaking in Baga Sola, on Thursday, Governor Zulum explained that the initial phase of the repatriation involved 1,768 families, comprising 7,790 individuals. He noted that a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Chad, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) preceded the return.
The delegation to Chad included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, and the Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
They were received by the Governor of Lac Province, Saleh Haggar Tidjani.
The tripartite agreement was signed by Dr. Sununu for Nigeria, the Governor of Lac Province for Chad, and Jerome Merlin, the UNHCR’s Second Representative in Baga Sola.
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Governor Zulum emphasised the voluntary nature of the repatriation and expressed gratitude to the Chadian government for hosting the refugees.
The governor’s delegation also included the Head of Chancery of the Nigerian Embassy in N’Djamena, Abdulkadir Ibrahim Ghani; Hon. Karta Maina Ma’aji, a member of the Borno State House of Assembly; Prof. Usman Tar and Sugun Mai Mele, Commissioners for Information and Local Government Affairs, respectively; and Mustapha Ali Busuguma, the Permanent Secretary of the Government House.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management acknowledged Governor Zulum’s contributions to the repatriation, highlighting his collaboration with the federal government and support for humanitarian efforts in Borno State.
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