300 refugees return to Gwoza in fourth repatriation phase

From: Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

The first batch of 300 Nigerian refugees have returned to Gwoza in Borno State, marking the commencement of the fourth phase of a sustained repatriation exercise.
The returnees, comprising 75 households, arrived in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, in a coordinated and dignified homecoming.
The journey for these families represented not merely a border crossing, but an emotional passage from displacement to rebuilding their livelihoods after 11 years in an IDP camp in the Republic of Cameroon.
This milestone follows Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s visit to their camp in Cameroon on 8 December 2025, where he pledged a voluntary, safe, and dignified return process.
Upon arrival in Pulka, the returnees were formally received by local authorities and security officials. In a show of gratitude, some knelt to touch the soil of their homeland; others offered prayers, while children, many of whom had spent most of their lives abroad, observed their ancestral home with curiosity.
In a demonstration of regional solidarity, the Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Minjinyawa Bakari, personally bade the refugees farewell, reaffirming bilateral cooperation in addressing the humanitarian impact of insurgency around Lake Chad.
Each household head received N500,000 in cash, with an additional N50,000 given to each wife to facilitate smooth reintegration.
The Borno State Government provided mattresses and wrappers, while the National Commission for Refugees supplied essential food items, including rice, millet, beans, and cooking oil.
Chairman of the Borno State Sub-Committee on Repatriation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, described the exercise as a significant achievement for the present administration.