By Abdullahi Alhassan
Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria- January 27, 2026(Series News Online)
Maroua, Cameroon - The Borno State Government has finalized arrangements for the voluntary repatriation of over 3,000 Nigerian refugees from Cameroon to their ancestral homes after 11 years of displacement, according to Borno State chairman of sub-committe on repatriation, Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe.
The refugees, predominantly from central and southern Borno, fled to Cameroon during the peak of the insurgency, which devastated villages and disrupted socio-economic life. The repatriation is part of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum's commitment to resettle Nigerian refugees from Borno sheltering in neighboring Chad, Cameroon, and Niger republics.
Chairman of the Borno State Sub-Committee on Repatriation, Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe, met with a Cameroonian government delegation and UNHCR officials at the Minawao Refugee Camp to finalize logistical arrangements. "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," Wakilbe stated.
Governor Zulum had assured refugees of a safe and dignified return during a December 2025 visit. "His Excellency, Governor Zulum, was here on 8 December 2025 and made commitments. As soon as they return home, all commitments will be fulfilled," Wakilbe assured.
The Cameroonian government and humanitarian partners provided shelter, healthcare, education, and farmland to refugees, reducing aid dependency. With improved security in Borno and ongoing reconstruction, many refugees are ready to return home voluntarily.
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