Cameroun deports 85 Nigerian refugees

 The Camerounian government has sent home 85 Nigerians, including 40 children, 32 women and 13 men, who fled Nigeria over the increasing attacks by the Boko Haram Islamic sect and had sought asylum in the country’s district of Mayo Tsanaga following a prefectural decree.

The administrative authorities which authorised the move to all sub-prefects, traditional leaders and vigilante committees, prescribed the systematic repression of Nigerian migrants who would attempt to seek asylum in Cameroun or transit through the country, a Camerounian online newspaper, cameroononline.org, reported. Continue..

It was gathered that the decision followed a government instruction requiring restriction of movement of people and goods from or to countries affected by the Ebola virus, and particularly Nigeria due to the risk of contagion of poliomyelitis and cholera which are among the prominent diseases the country is fighting against.

In the meantime, the expulsion came as the Camerounian military reportedly stepped up its offensive against Boko Haram. The deadly terrorist has reportedly killed many Camerounian soldiers during attacks in the border region of the far north of the West African country in recent weeks.

Combating the challenge of intense fighting on both sides of the border, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has opened a refugee camp in Minawou in northern Cameroun, which currently hosts more than 11,000 people.