The Federal Government and the Borno State Government have concluded the repatriation of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon with the return of 680 persons to Banki town in Bama Local Government Area of the state.

The returnees, comprising 162 households, arrived on Thursday from the Minawao Refugee Camp in Cameroon, marking the fourth and final batch of refugees under the ongoing coordinated repatriation exercise.
The latest return concludes the fourth phase of the joint repatriation programme, supported by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRM-IDP) in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The fourth phase of the exercise, which commenced on January 27, 2026, began with the return of 300 refugees to Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area, followed by subsequent arrivals in Banki, Bama LGA.

Speaking at a farewell ceremony in Cameroon, the Governor of the Far North Region, Minjinyawa Bakari, commended Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, for his unwavering commitment to the safe and dignified return of Nigerian refugees.
Bakari urged the returnees to become productive citizens and rebuild their lives with dignity in their ancestral communities.
On arrival at the Nigerian border, the refugees were received by the Commanding Officer of the 152 Task Force Battalion, Lt. Col. Michael Ndubisi, the District Head of Banki, Mohammed Shehu Umar, and other government officials and stakeholders.

The returnees were taken to a reception facility before being transported to their UNHCR-supported housing units constructed by the Borno State Government.
Addressing the refugees at the reception centre in Banki, Chairman of the Repatriation Committee, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, warned against exploiting the repatriation process for economic gains.
“The state government will verify its database to identify individuals who had already settled in Banki without formally cancelling their refugee status,” Wakilbe said.

He warned that anyone found culpable would face consequences, including exclusion from housing allocations and livelihood restoration packages.
Wakilbe also commended the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed, for the commission’s support throughout the repatriation process.
He disclosed that Governor Zulum approved a comprehensive return package for the refugees, including ₦100,000 for each household, ₦20,000 for each wife, as well as mattresses and wrappers.

In addition, the National Commission for Refugees provided food items such as bags of rice, beans, millet, cooking oil and assorted condiments to support the reintegration of the families.
A total of 3,122 individuals, comprising 557 households, have now been successfully repatriated to Bama and Gwoza Local Government Areas—two major border communities severely affected by the 16-year Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State.