About 197 Nigerians have fled the war-torn Central Africa Republic and have returned back to Nigeria.
According to the Director Search and Rescue of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA Air Commodore, Charles Otegbade, said that the thorough screening conducted by the officials of the agency confirmed that the returnees (Migrants) were Nigerians.
He further stated that the unrest in the country (CAR) since last year informed the temporary settlement of most returnees at internationally camps in eastern Cameroon Republic.
He stated this in Yola Adamawa State capital over the weekend, after the arrival of the returnees.
Otegbade further explained that the International Organization for Migrants with the support of Cameroonian authority escort Nigerians to Sahuda, a border town along Nigeria-Cameroon border in Mubi South LGA in the state (Adamawa).
“NEMA has received a total of 197 Nigerians from International Organization for Migrants with the support of Cameroon authority.
“The development follows the closure of the International camps by the Organization at Kenzo and Garua Bulai all in eastern Cameroon Republic.” Otegbade said.
The director confirmed that the 197 Nigerians were the last batch evacuated since the CAR conflict erupted in late 2013 and early 2014 pointing out that, in early 2014 at the peak of the conflict, NEMA with the collaboration of Nigerian Air force rescued and evacuated over 2000 Nigerians from Bangui International airport to Abuja.
“Those that were trapped in various locations in Central Africa and cannot reach Bangui escaped into Cameroon Republic for their safety.
“And so far NEMA had evacuated and settled over 3,000 Nigerians migrants from CAR between 2014 to date.” Otegbade said.
He said that Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states had the highest number of 52, 41 and 29 migrants while Gombe 16, Kano 12, Bauchi 9, Onitsha (Anambra) and Kaduna with one migrant respectively