Rep member criticises Cameroon's deportation of Nigerian refugees

Rep. Sani Zoro (APC-Gumel/Maigatari/Sulatankarkar/Gagarawa) in Jigawa has criticised the incessant deportation of Nigerian refugees by Cameroonian authorities.

Zoro, former National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, made the criticism while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Dutse.

He recalled that the Cameroonian authorities had in 2015 deported 20,000 Nigerian refugees.

``Last week on Wednesday, I moved a motion, which was passed by the House of Representatives, criticising the incessant deportation of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon.

``As at December last year, Cameroon had illegally deported 20,000 Nigerian refugees.

``According to its officials, by March this year, 18,000 Nigerian refugees will again be deported," he lamented.

Zoro described Cameroon's action as ``unAfrican, unfriendly and hostile".

According to him, the action has contravened all charters and conventions on human and people’s right, and international human rights, which both countries had endorsed.

He added that the gesture also contravened ``quite a number of resolutions and protocols that have been passed in favour of refugees''.

The legislator said the action of Cameroon raised not only concerns, but also suspicions about its commitments towards the resolutions of the North-eastern crisis, including its multi-territorial force to fight the insurgency in Nigeria.

Besides, the lawmaker noted that the action of Cameroon further raised concerns and suspicions towards its commitments toward a lasting or durable solutions to the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

According to him, the House of Representatives will soon constitute a team to be led by the Deputy Speaker or Majority Leader, to visit the Cameroonian parliament.

Zoro added that the team would also meet the Speaker of the Cameroonian parliament to express displeasure of Nigeria, and draw his attention on the conventions, protocols and all resolutions violated by his country.

He added that the House had earlier asked the Federal Government, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to summon the Cameroonian Ambassador in Nigeria, to register Nigeria's displeasure over the incidents.

According to him, the House will also consider any other measure necessary to bring to the notice of the Cameroonian authorities that the frequent deportation of Nigerian refugees is unacceptable.

``In other words, we are still at the diplomatic stage; we won’t want the situation to degenerate,'' he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lawmaker is the Chairman, House Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).