Borno to repatriate over 3,000 refugees from Cameroon

The Borno State Government has finalised arrangements for the voluntary repatriation of more than 3,000 Nigerian refugees from Cameroon to their ancestral homes after 11 years. This, according to a statement by the spokesman of Borno State governor, Malam Dauda Iliya, was in fulfillment of Governor Zulum’s commitment to repatriate and resettle all Nigerian refugees […]

The Borno State Government has finalised arrangements for the voluntary repatriation of more than 3,000 Nigerian refugees from Cameroon to their ancestral homes after 11 years.

This, according to a statement by the spokesman of Borno State governor, Malam Dauda Iliya, was in fulfillment of Governor Zulum’s commitment to repatriate and resettle all Nigerian refugees from Borno, who are sheltering in neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger for over 11 years.

He said during a visit to the camp in December 2025, Governor Zulum assured refugees willing to return that they would do so in a safe and dignified manner.

“The refugees, predominantly from communities in central and southern Borno, fled to Cameroon more than 11 years ago during the peak of the insurgency, which devastated villages, displaced families, and disrupted socio-economic life across the North-East,” he said

Iliya said that during their stay, Cameroonian authorities and humanitarian partners provided shelter, healthcare, education, and other essential services. Many refugees were also allocated farmland to support agricultural activities, reducing aid dependency and allowing them to sustain their families with dignity.

“With improved security in several parts of Borno and ongoing state-led reconstruction efforts, many refugees have expressed their readiness to return home voluntarily,” Wakilbe said.