The deported Nigerians were among hundreds of foreign nationals expelled from Chad recently and they were immediately ferried to Mayo-Oulo on border with Nigeria where they were later handed over to Nigerian authorities in the neighbouring town of Mubi in Adamawa State.
The deported Nigerians have contested the action, describing it as inhumane while Cameroon authorities say the move was a preventive measure against the increasing threats from the Nigerian Boko Haram terror group.
“They are foreign nationals without valid documents. We are working towards identifying those who are living with us [legally]. The expulsion concerns only foreign nationals without valid documents,” said Mr Albert Mekondané Obounou, the prefect of Cameroon’s Logone and Chari Division.
They are 'undocumented migrants
Cameroon police officials were also reported to have rounded up scores of Chadian nationals on Wednesday and handed them to N’Djamena at the border.
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| An official statistics, obtained by Bloom Gist revealed that there were 8,128 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon’s Far North, but only 5,289 were registered by UNHCR. |
“We decided to send home all foreigners without valid papers. Other countries of the sub-region involved in the fight against Boko Haram had advocated this solution to truly fight against the terrorists who infiltrate people,” a security source said.
A Camaroon Security source told Bloom News that the expulsion of the Nigerians was just the beginning of a crackdown on undocumented foreigners that will continue.
An official statistics, obtained by Bloom Gist revealed that there were 8,128 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon’s Far North, but only 5,289 were registered by UNHCR.
