13,000 Nigerians take refuge in Cameroon

According to a report released yesterday November 11th by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 13,000 Nigerians fled from Nigeria to Cameroon in October after the attack and capture of Mubi town in Adamawa state by Boko Haram members.

According to the report, some 13,000 Nigerian refugees mostly women and children, fled Mubi town in over 300 vehicles and settled in towns of Guider and Gashiga in the North region of Cameroun and to Bourha, Mogode and Boukoula in the Far North of Cameroon.

 

Although some Cameroonian nationals say most of the Nigerians that arrived their villages have returned to Nigeria and have settled at the refugee camps set up in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, the UNHCR say it is investigating claims that those who returned to Nigeria were forcefully sent back  

"We are also examining claims that some of these refugees may have been forced to return to Nigeria. We are seeking assurances from both Nigeria and Cameroun that the return of these people was done on a voluntary basis. Cameroun is hosting thousands of refugees from Nigeria and Central African Republic and we encourage Cameroon to continue with its policy of welcoming refugees,” UNHCR said.