Nigerian Refugees Return From Cameroon

The six-year-old insurgency waged by Boko Haram to establish an Islamist state in the northeast of Nigeria has displaced around 1.5 million people internally and forced thousands to flee into neighboring Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

More than 800 people have been killed in just two months in Boko Haram’s surge, which began after Buhari took office on a pledge to defeat the militants.

Chadian forces killed seven Boko Haram militants in a clash on Wednesday, a security source said, as the country tries to secure islands on Lake Chad used by the insurgents as hideouts and bases to launch attacks.

In recent weeks, Boko Haram has continued its strategy of combining sudden attacks and looting on one hand, and suicide bombings on the other.

The vigilante, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers torched many homes before making off with the hostages.

He said a total of 135 people had been abducted.

However, delays in the appointment of the military command that will lead a contingent of 8,700 soldiers has led to the postponement of launching any operations, of which Boko Haram has taken advantage without facing the slightest response.

About 12,000 Nigerians are being repatriated over the next three to four days after seeking refuge in Cameroon over attacks by Boko Haram sect, the National Emergency Management Agency, said on Wednesday.

NEMA also confirmed that within the next 24 hours, about 12,000 Nigerians are expected to return to the country from Cameroon.

Cameroon, which is part of a regional force fighting the militants, has been the target of some of the deadly assaults.

“We are ready to provide any assistance asked of us…in the fight against Boko Haram“, Conde said on a visit to Niger’s capital Niamey.