6,000 Borno Refugees Seek Shelter in Niger

Over 6,000 Nigerians fleeing the military onslaughts against Boko Haram insurgents in northern Borno State have crossed over into Niger Republic's Diffa province.



They have taken shelter in Bosso, a local government area in Diffa, three kilometers across the border from Mallam-Fatori village in Abadam local government area of Borno state.

The refugees told a Daily Trust reporter who was in Bosso at the weekend that they fled from Tumbun-Dabina, Dankatsina, Karaka, Dogon-Marya, Mallam-Fatori and Tumbun-Danjuma villages of Abadam LGA of Borno State. Others are from Kukawa, Mobar and Guzamala villages.

Villagers began fleeing into Niger Republic soon after the start of a military operation in the wake of the proclamation of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states two weeks ago, the refugees said.

A Niger Republic local official told Daily Trust they have conducted a census of the Nigerian refugees and that over 6,000 of them have been registered.

"According our statistics, over 6,000 Nigerians have crossed over to Bosso town within two weeks. Although we have not provided them with a specific camp, we have directed our people to accommodate them in their respective houses," said Bako Mammadou, chairman of the Bosso Local Government in Diffa State.

Investigation by our reporter revealed that the refugees cross into Niger through the various feeder roads, generally on foot. Others, especially youths, ride on motorbikes.

Daily Trust also gathered that the influx into Niger was caused by tensions in Borno state, which has been the hotbed of Boko Haram violence in the past years.

One of the refugees, Yunusa Ali, said: "There was massive influx of Nigerians into Niger Republic last Saturday when two fighter jets operated on the Nigeria/Niger borders.

"The security personnel are still pursuing the insurgents in some villages in Abadam local government of Borno state. There are still bombings by the fighter jets in the suspected stronghold of the insurgents. On Saturday, two fighter jets bombed some villages around Tumbin-Dabino, Dankatsina and Karaka."

Another refugee, Halima Abdullahi, said, "We trekked from Mallam-Fatori to Bosso to save our lives and our children. We don't know what will happen to us if we stay there because last Friday some insurgents killed a policeman and other persons in Mallam-Fatori and that was why we left the area for safety."

She added: "We have abandoned our belongings there. Women and children have suffered a lot but we have no option but to leave the place because we have heard about the experiences of the Baga community and we don't want to fall victims of the angry military men."

Another refugee Muhammad Ibrahim told Daily "my mother asked me to leave Mallam-Fatori the very day the policeman was killed. We learnt that the deceased was a CIB officer. Many people have vacated the village and relocated to Bosso in Niger."

"We came here on motorcycle and we are going back today (yesterday) because we have to go back and meet with our parents and other members of our family. If there is peace in the village we will stay but if there is tension we will return to Bosso with our family," he said.

Daily Trust observed that the refugees are being accommodated by residents. They were scattered in Duwani, Mairi-Unguwar-Sarki, Unguwar-Mahauta and Balagama quarters in Bosso town.

Our reporter also observed that between 50 and 60 people are squatting in a house. While women and children sleep inside the houses, men on the other hand spend the nights in the open outside.

At Gidan Adamu Mai-wanki some refugees said they will not go back to Mallam-Fatori until normalcy returns to the area.

Alhaji Alasan Abubakar, 65, told Daily Trust he came into Bosso nine days ago. "I migrated together with my wife and nine children. We have abandoned our belongings at Mallam-Fatori and we are not planning to go back for now," he said. "We are searching for a house to rent here in Bosso. We are happy that the people of Bosso have received us warmly and they are friendly. We will stay here for now. We have started looking for a way to enrol our children into schools because our brothers who came here earlier have done so," he added.

Speaking to Daily Trust, chairman of Bosso Local Government of Diffa state, Alhaji Bako Mammadou, said: "We have decided to receive the migrants from Nigeria because they are our brothers and sisters. Our government has assisted them and it will render more assistance to them provided they will live in peace with their hosts.

"When the number of migrants increased last week, we informed the state government about the possible shortage of water that might arise and the government directed the water department to provide adequate water to Bosso. Already the new water scheme has been commissioned and water is now available in Bosso.

"We have also invited the Red Cross to assist the migrants. The have assisted them with food and other household needs. About 1,500 people were so far assisted. Each family received 75 kg of rice, 25kg of beans, 10 liters of groundnut oil, two mats, two wax, cooking pots, blanket and plates."



Daily trust