On their return to Nigeria, Nigerians who fled to safety in Cameroon as a result of the deadly activities of the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria’s north east, have accused the Cameroonian police of theft.
At least 2,500 Nigerian refugees have been recently deported from Cameroon.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), announced the return of 12,000 Nigerians from Cameroon last week, saying most of them were camped in Adamawa state. The returnees, who were mainly from Borno state, had fled their homes as a result of constant attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents.
Information gathered from some of the returnees detail alleged manhandling by police officers in Cameroon. Some said their belongings and cash were taken forcibly by the armed officers.
According to The Punch, one of the returnees, who claimed to be the chairman of those that were camped at Mubi in Adamawa state, Mustapha Galanbari, said that Nigerians who fled the embattled states to Cameroon were being hunted by police officers in the neighbouring country.
“On my way to the market, I was arrested. My clothes and everything I have are with them in Cameroon. The clothe I’m wearing now is the only piece that I have. They arrested me and many Nigerians as well.
“On our way back from Cameroon, the Cameroonian police collected all our money. We don’t have money. Now, I’m a father with 12 people and I don’t have even N100 because they collected all my money. They collected all the money on most of us who made it to Nigeria,” Mustapha said.
When asked why the Cameroonian officers collected their belongings and money, Mustapha said: “I don’t know. When they see you, they’ll ask you if you are from Nigeria. If you say yes, they will arrest you, take you to the police station, search you and remove all the money on you and put you in their cell.”
Correspondents from The Punch have contacted the Cameroon High Commission in Abuja, but a woman, who gave her name only as Esther, said she was not authorised to speak on the matter.
However, an electronic mail address of the Cameroonian high commissioner was provided, and an e-mail was sent across, seeking the response of the commission.
But as of the time of filling this report, no response was received from the commission on the matter.
Meanwhile, the NEMA said that about 3,000 refugees are still at the Nigerian border with Cameroon, following insurgents’ attacks in the north east.
The director general of the agency, Muhammad Sidi, confirmed this number to Naij.com. Sidi said the refugees are undergoing registration and profiling before their relocation to Mubi, Adamawa state, and further transportation to their home state, Borno.
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