The first batch of 300 Nigerian refugees has returned to Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, marking the commencement of the fourth phase of an ongoing repatriation exercise from Cameroon on Tuesday.
The returnees, made up of 75 households, arrived in Pulka in a coordinated and dignified process, ending more than 11 years of displacement in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in the Republic of Cameroon.
For many of the families, the journey symbolised more than a physical return it was an emotional transition from years of displacement to the hope of rebuilding their livelihoods and reconnecting with their ancestral roots.
The development follows a visit by Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, to the refugees’ camp in Cameroon on December 8, 2025, during which he assured them of a voluntary, safe and dignified return.
Chairman of the Borno State Sub-Committee on Repatriation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, described the exercise as a major achievement of the present administration.
“This homecoming is a testament to our collective resolve. We are not just moving people; we are restoring lives and reigniting hope in our communities,” Wakilbe said.
Demonstrating regional cooperation, the Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Minjinyawa Bakari, personally saw the refugees off, reaffirming bilateral efforts to address the humanitarian consequences of insurgency around the Lake Chad Basin.
On arrival in Pulka, the returnees were received by local authorities and security officials. Some knelt to touch the soil of their homeland, others offered prayers, while children many of whom had spent most of their lives outside Nigeria looked on with curiosity.
As part of reintegration support, each household head received N500,000 in cash, while each wife was given an additional N50,000.
The Borno State Government also provided mattresses and wrappers, while the National Commission for Refugees supplied food items including rice, millet, beans and cooking oil.
The repatriation exercise forms part of a broader strategy by the Borno State Government to stabilise resettled communities, rebuild infrastructure and restore livelihoods in areas affected by insurgency.
Those who accompanied the Chairman of the Sub Committee on Repatriation included members of the Borno State House of Assembly representing Kaga, Gwoza and Gulumba constituencies Honourable Mustafa Alibe Benishiekh, Buba Abatcha and Baba Shehu Gulumba as well as the Chairman of Gwoza Local Government, Abba Shehu Timta, and an official of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Mr. Murdakai Titus.
