NEMA receives 197 returnees from Cameroon, displaced by Central African Republic crises.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 197 Nigerians who were displaced by the crises in Central African Republic (CAR) were taking refuge in the Republic of Cameroon under the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Director General of NEMA Muhammad Sani Sidi who received the returnees explained that about two years ago following the escalation of the crises in CAR, the Federal Government through NEMA had evacuated its citizens through the airport.

These 197 citizens however, could not be reached because they had crossed over to the Republic of Cameroon.

Under the international charter which Nigeria is a signatory, displaced persons are free to decide when to return back home, especially given the cover of the International Organization which had opened camps for them in that country, NEMA DG explained.

According to him, IOM was closing the camps and had informed the Nigerian government of the development. The returnees were then transported to the border, from where NEMA was mandated to receive them on behalf of the Federal Government.

The returnees according to NEMA were fully screened by the security agencies at the border before being received.

The breakdown of the returnees per state were given as follows: Adamawa (64), Bauchi(15), Kebbi (7), Sokoto (2), Gombe(16), Borno (40), Kano (13), Kaduna(1), Plateau(2), FCT (2), Yobe(29) and Taraba (6).



The closure of the IOM camps have led to the returning of all persons living there to the various countries including citizens of Nigeria, Mali, etc.