The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA) has transported home 551 indegenes of Borno State who fled to neighbouring Cameroon as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“The Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Alh Muhammad Kanar, accompanied by Borno State SEMA Executive Director, Alh Bulama Dawud, was at Njimtilo check point, which is the entry point of Maiduguri metropolis, to coordinate the reception by humanitarian workers for the returnees and security checks conducted by the military,” NEMA Information Officer North East, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said.

He disclosed that the returnees are to be camped at the Gubio Road Housing Estate IDP Camp set up by Borno State Government and the agency.

“Over 5000 IDPs returnees are expected to be transported to Maiduguri from locations in Adamawa State. An initial batch of 600 returnees was transported back to Borno earlier in August. Other stakeholders who participated in the reception operation for the returnees includes international NGOs like United Nations office for coordination of humanitarian activities (OCHA), Save the children Foundation, International Organisation for Migration IOM and Norwegian Refugee Council,” Ibrahim added.

•Photo courtesy of NEMA shows some of the returnee refugees.