Cameroon ‘has forcibly returned 100,000 Nigerian refugees’

Cameroon has forcibly returned 100,000 Nigerian refugees in breach of international agreements, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.

Th e rights group accused soldiers of deporting refugees escaping Islamist violence, as well as attacking and sexually exploiting them.

Cameroon is “punishing” refugees for Boko Haram attacks, HRW said. Cameroon has rejected similar accusations previously, saying Nigerians have returned willingly.

“Since early 2015, the Cameroonian authorities have summarily deported at least 100,000 Nigerians living in remote border areas back to war, displacement and destitution in Nigeria’s Borno state,” HRW said in a report.

“In carrying out these deportations, Cameroonian soldiers have frequently used extreme physical violence. ” A 43-year-old man from Borno state told the rights group that his brother had died of internal bleeding after Cameroonian soldiers beat him with a stick.

“Th ey humiliated us like animals and beat us like we were slaves,” he said.  Earlier this year, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) criticised Cameroon for forcibly returning hundreds of refugees to north-east Nigeria.

It said the returns had “continued unabated”, despite the signing of an agreement ensuring that any returns would be voluntary.  Th e Cameroonian authorities have previously claimed that Boko Haram militants have been entering the country disguised as refugees.

Th e UNHCR says forced return constitutes a serious violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1969 OAU Convention, both of which Cameroon has ratifi ed.

It has previously called on Cameroon to honour its obligations under the conventions and continue keeping its borders open to allow access to territory and asylum procedures for people fl eeing the Islamist insurgency

Dana Air celebrates Nigeria @ 57Dan Air has congratulated Nigeria, the airline’s customers for their support as the country celebrates its 57th Independence Anniversary on October 1.  As part of activities to mark the anniversary, the airline has scheduled to play Med-View Airline in a charity match as well as spend some time with ‘special children’.

“In a few days from now, Nigeria will be 57. We are proud to be part of this great country with enormous prospects.
We also wish to congratulate the government, good and most importantly our guests, for their constant support, resilience and patriotism.

“As part of activities to mark the Independence Day, we will also be playing a charity football match against MedView Airline…. We would visit and spend quality time with the ‘Special Children’ in our foundation while showering them with gifts and love.

Th is is part of our broad corporate social responsibility and we are always happy to bring smiles to the faces of the less privileged in our society.

“For over 18 years, the Dana Foundation has been involved in a lot of community development projects as well as providing support to foundations and charity organizations that share same objectives,” said Dana spokesman, Mr.  Kingsley Ezenwa in a statement.

 

 

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