The first batch of 300 Nigerian refugees in neighbouring Cameroon Republic have arrived in Pulka town of Gwoza Local Area of Borno.
The 300 were part of the 3,000 expected to be repatriated from the Minawao Camp in Maruwa town of Cameroon.
Their arrival marked the commencement of the fourth phase of a sustained repatriation exercise of people displaced for 11 years by the insurgency in Borno.
The returnees, comprising 75 households, arrived in Pulka on Tuesday in a coordinated and dignified manner being handled by the United Nations agencies in collaboration with Nigeria and Cameroonian authorities.
On arrival in Pulka, the returnees were formally received by local authorities and security officials.
Each household head received ₦500,000 for his family, while each housewife got additional ₦50,000 to facilitate smooth reintegration.
The Borno Government provided mattresses and clothing materials for women and children, while the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, supplied essential food items, including rice, millet, beans, and cooking oil.
Speaking on the exercise, the Chairman of the Borno State Sub-Committee on Repatriation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe described the exercise as a significant achievement in the lifetime 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 stated.
Many of the refugees were excited to return home after 11 years and were in tears of joy.
They thanked all those involved in their safe stay in Cameroon and the dignified return back home, and prayed for lasting peace as they prepare for normal life in their ancestral land.
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, marking a new chapter for families displaced by insurgency over 11 years ago.
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.
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.
The Borno State Government has already provided buses and other logistical support for the movement of the refugees while the National Commission for Refugees will oversee and coordinate the repatriation mission in collaboration with Cameroonian authorities and humanitarian agencies.
According to the Chairman Borno State Sub-Committee on Repatriation and member of the Presidential Committee on Repatriation, Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe, the repatriation is the fourth phase.
“This is the fourth phase, which began in 2020. The process is going on smoothly in accordance with the tripartite and technical working group agreements,” Engr. Wakilbe stated
