Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has led a Nigerian delegation to Chad to facilitate the repatriation of 7,790 refugees displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The refugees, primarily from Borno State, have been living in Chad for nearly a decade after fleeing violence in the Lake Chad Basin.
Their return is being organized through a tripartite agreement involving the governments of Nigeria, Chad, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
Governor Zulum, accompanied by Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, and the Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, was received in Baga Sola by the Governor of Lac Province, Saleh Haggar Tidjani.
The first phase of the repatriation will see 1,768 families—comprising 7,790 individuals—return to Nigeria.
Governor Zulum assured the refugees that only those who voluntarily wish to return will be repatriated and pledged full support for their reintegration.
“We deeply appreciate the hospitality and support Chad has provided to our people during this difficult time,” Zulum stated, expressing gratitude to the Chadian government.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Sununu praised Governor Zulum for his leadership in crisis management and collaboration with the federal government.
“I want to thank the Executive Governor of Borno State for his unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts and for being a model of federal and state cooperation,” Sununu said.
The repatriation initiative, as noticed by WorldClass247News, marks a significant step in restoring normalcy for thousands of displaced Nigerians, with authorities promising ongoing support to ensure their smooth reintegration into their communities.