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Nigerian Refugees Start Voluntary Return from Cameroon

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   MAROUA, CAMEROON - At least 130 Nigerian refugees who fled the Boko
   Haram insurgency have been flown back from Cameroon in the first phase
   of a voluntary repatriation exercise organized by the host state, their
   country Nigeria and the United Nations.

   The group of 133 refugees from 25 families was bound for Yola in
   Nigeria's Adamawa state, expressing hope they will find peace in their
   country after several years of atrocities that made them escape.

   Among them was 31-year old Alim Bourkadia, who was anxious to return
   after four years in Cameroon.

   "We say thank God to Cameroon that helped to keep us in their country
   and today, our country needs us. Thanks [to] Cameroon and UNHCR that
   helped us," he said.

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