Refugees enjoined to be law abiding

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Hadiza Mustapha, has called on Nigerian refugees in Minawaou, Mokolo Subdivision in the Far North Region, to be law-abiding and collaborate with their host country, Cameroon.

The High Commissioner made the appeal while stating that everything was being done to arrest sectarian violence caused by Boko Haram.

Hadiza was speaking to some 16,975 refugees during a two-day working visit to the Region. The visit enabled her to appreciate the humanitarian situation of her compatriots who have fled to Cameroon due to Boko haram abuses in Nigeria.

She said she has come along with a message of solidarity and comfort from the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan and called on the refuges to be hopeful, for, things will surely come back to normal. The refugees were equally enjoined to collaborate with Cameroon authorities and stay away from problems.

Her visit and interaction with the refugee community permitted her to understand the basic needs of the refugees which are: nutritional, sanitary and moral.

She, however, suggested that they can participate in the amelioration of their present condition by farming and involving themselves in petty trading. “You are farmers, farm the land, for, no one knows when these Boko Haram attacks will end and I am recommending you to collaborate with the Government of Cameroon,” Hadiza exhorted her compatriots.

The Diplomat also appreciated the efforts made by the Government of Cameroon and United Nations structures that have been set up to cater for the refugees.

At the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, she was presented the modalities required to become a refugee. The UNHCR official said that only persons desiring to be recognised and registered as refugees can be admitted in the Minawaou camp, while those who have refused to be considered as such, are sent back to their country, while emphasising that there exists only one refugee camp for Nigerians and it is at Minawaou.

Meantime, a consignment of foodstuff and didactic material donated to the refugees by the Nigerian community in Cameroon was handed over to them. At the end of the visit, Hadiza said she was satisfied with the enormous efforts taken, be they sensitisation, education of children, provision of potable water and latrines and nutrition, by concerned organisations and individuals.

Yet, the identification papers for births and deaths that arise in the camp remain worrisome to local authorities of the Region.