NEMA frowns over unlawful repatriation of over 2,500 IDPs by Cameroonian authority

Tom Garba

The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) on Friday expressed its dismay over allegedly unlawful repatriation of over 2,500 Nigerians from Cameroun Republic who escaped  Boko Haram attacks to Cameroun.

Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, the agency camp Coordinator in Adamawa raised the alarm in an interview with Newsmen in Yola

Bello complained that the way and manner Nigerian Internally Displaced Persons were threatened and deported by Cameroonian authority was unacceptable.

He worried that what Cameroun authority did to Nigerians refuges was totally against and violation of the International Refuges Rights.

“The agency received a call from the men of Nigerian Immigration who were patrolling   along Nigeria- Cameroun boarder.

“They call our attention that there was trucks full of Nigerians who after investigation are refuges, Internally Displaced by Boko Haram and  been repatriated  by Cameroun Gendermanes .” Bello said.

He blamed Cameroun government for not informing Nigerian authority over the development to enable it prepare well and receive its citizens.

He explained that the IDPs after thorough investigation were Nigerians from Bama and Gamboru Ngala in Borno state who escaped from Boko Haram attacks to Cameroun.

He said that the agency had formally forwarded it’s complained to the country representative of United Nation High Commission on Refuges to look into the situation.

Bello further explained that the IDPs were dumped by Cameroonian at Sahuda village in Mubi South Local Government Area, a border town along Nigeria-Cameroun boarder.

According to the Coordinator, the victims were comprises of men,women children ,pregnant and nursing mothers.

“Their situation is pathetic they were traumatized.” he said.

He said the agency with the assistance of state emergency management agency were making all possible to convey the IDPs to Yola camps.

Also in his remark, Mr. Aliyu Maikano, the representative of Nigeria Red Cross on IDPs in Adamawa confirmed that the organization had received the unfortunate information.

“We have sent a rescue and first aid teams to assist the IDPs who were dumped by Cameroonian security at the Nigerian boarder.

“The society is liaising with NEMA on how to evacuate the IDPs.” Maikano said.