The United Nations High Committee for Refugee, UNCHR, has confirmed that more than 6,000 people (including foreigners) residing in Nigeria have fled to neighbouring countries, as a result of military operations in the wake of the emergency rule imposed on three North-eastern states.
The agency also said that about 155 Nigerians who fled the states were currently seeking asylum in Chad.
President Goodluck Jonathan had on May 14, 2013 declared emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, a development which necessitated huge deployment of troops to confront insurgents.
Speaking in Geneva on Tuesday at a press briefing, UNHCR spokesman, Adrian Edwards, said over 6,000 people, mainly women and children have crossed to Niger Republic.
According to him, out of the figure, 2,692 are Nigerians, while others are nationals from Niger, Cameroon and Chad, living in north-east Nigeria before the declaration of emergency rule.
His words: “The crisis in northeastern Nigeria has forced more than 6,000 people, mainly women, children and elderly people to seek safety in neighbouring Niger. UNCHR said they escaped for fear of being caught in the government-led crackdown on insurgents linked to the Boko Haram sect, particularly in the Baga area of Northern Nigeria, close to the Niger border.
“Refugees report that air strikes by Government forces are continuing from time to time, and that planes are regularly flying over the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa where the state of emergency has been in force since May 14th.
“People arriving in Niger also mention the increasing presence of roving armed bandits in several States in Nigeria. Rising commodity prices coupled with pre-existing food insecurity is also becoming a major concern for the populations of the affected States.
“Niger has so far received 6,240 people, comprising Nigerian nationals (2,692) returning Niger nationals (3,544), and 94 people of other nationalities (mainly Chadians). New arrivals have settled mainly in Bosso, Diffa, Kablewa, Maine, Tam, Tcoukoujani and Garin Amadou. Once their families are secured in Niger, men would return to Nigeria to work and to sustain their families’ needs.
“Many new arrivals have walked into Niger, taking refuge in villages located only a few kilometers away from the border. Others, who fled areas located as far as 300 kilometers away, such as Maiduguri in Nigeria, have used cars or motor-cycles.
“New arrivals are either renting houses or staying with host families, who are themselves living in very precarious conditions. UNHCR staff who have visited several border villages hosting new arrivals also met some Nigerian families living out in the open, under trees. “Although the local population has welcomed those who have arrived newly, but the presence of newcomers is also putting a strain on meager local food and water resources. Niger, a country in the Sahel, itself struggles with food insecurity due to years of drought. UNHCR plans to deliver some relief to the new arrivals as well as to the host community. We are also helping the local authorities to register new arrivals.
“UNHCR has also seen arrivals in Cameroon and Chad in the past weeks. There are 155 Nigerian asylum seekers in Chad along with 716 Chadian nationals. In Cameroon, there are 1,200 returned nationals, Edwards said. The Refugee Agency also said the security situation in Nigeria “remains extremely difficult”.
Edwards added that “the Agency is not present in the parts of the northeast that are under a state of emergency, due to the prevailing insecurity. Information about the humanitarian situation and displaced people in the northeast is consequently limited.”
“In Adamawa State, insecurity is reportedly worst in the areas of military operations close to the Cameroonian border. Most of the Northern states suffer from chronic and periodic insecurity due to conflict and insurgent activities (from Borno State to Kaduna Sate),” he said
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