Terrorism: Ndume commends FG, Borno govt for resettlement of victims

Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has commended the Federal Government and his home state governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, for the recent relocation and resettlement of victims of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist groups, who had been displaced from their homes and were living in Cameroon.

Checks revealed that a tripartite agreement between the Borno State Government, the Federal Government, and its Cameroonian counterpart, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon, many of whom are from Borno State, dates back to 2017.

The agreement was signed in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, with the then Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, leading a high-level Nigerian delegation that included the then Executive Governor of Borno State, and now Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

The agreement ensures the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of Nigerian refugees who fled terror attacks to Cameroon’s Minawao camp and other areas, back to Nigeria.

Further checks revealed that Governor Zulum has been actively involved in partnering with the Federal Government and the UNHCR to accelerate the repatriation process, specifically for tens of thousands of Borno citizens in Cameroon.

The Senator representing Borno South, in a statement issued at the weekend in Abuja, commended the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and the Borno State Government for keeping faith with the programme, which has enabled many citizens of Borno State to return to their North-East homeland.

He said: “I want to commend the Federal Government because the tripartite agreement between it, the Borno State Government, the Government of Cameroon, and the UNHCR has ensured the repatriation, resettlement, and relocation of Nigerian refugees in Minawao, Cameroon, back to Gwoza Local Government.

“I commend the FG for the initiative of resettling the people and the active participation of the Borno State Government in facilitating the resettlement after over ten years in Cameroon. I also want to commend the resettlement of the people of Wala Village in Gwoza Local Government.”

The former Senate Chief Whip also thanked Governor Zulum for redeeming his promise to restore electricity to Gwoza Local Government, which had been in total blackout for over 10 years due to the destruction of power facilities by Boko Haram.

“The efforts of Governor Zulum in restoring electricity in Gwoza are commendable. We have been without light for over 10 years. The Borno State Governor made a promise last year during the installation of the Emir of Bama, and he has kept that promise.”