More than 200 Nigerians who have been taking refuge in a camp in Chad have been reunited with their families after years of separation – many for more than a decade.

More than 200 Nigerian refugees have been reunited with their families and relatives in Borno State.

The refugees were repatriated from the Chad Republic on February 6.

Many fled from their ancestral hometowns during the Boko Haram insurgency. Some have lived in refugee camps in Chad for more than 10 years.

This week hundreds of them were reunited with their families in Borno State in Nigeria’s northeast.

Tears of Joy

“When I saw my children, I wept out of joy,” Jamila Ali told Ndarason. “I haven’t seen my family, especially my children, for almost six years – until now.

“It was so wonderful to see them in person. When I laid eyes on them, I was very excited. I can’t tell you how special it was to hold them in my arms and hug them again. I’m back home now and all I want is for us to continue to live together in peace and happiness.”

Jamila Ali is one of thousands of Nigerians who have been living in the Dar Es Salam refugee camp in Chad.

She had fled from Doron Baga in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State to escape repeated deadly raids by the members of the insurgent group, the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), more commonly referred to as Boko Haram, and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Hope for safe, secure and sustainable resettlement

Mustapha Mohammed, a former refugee who recently returned to Doron Baga, was reunited with his family after more than a decade.

“I was so excited to see my brother and uncle. We have been separated for about 10 years. I’m very happy to see them again,” he told RNI. “I really appreciate the efforts of the government to repatriate and resettle refugees in their hometowns.

“I just hope that there will be adequate security to ensure our lives and property will be protected.”

In touch in person

During his three years of refuge in Chad, Mustapha Bagoni kept in contact with his family in Baga town by telephone.

“Even though international calls are very expensive, I used to phone my family regularly. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see them again. To see them in person is what I have been thinking about for all these years. And I am so grateful to see that they are happy and healthy.”

JAS/ISWAP insurgency

Thousands of people have been killed – and millions displaced – in the JAS/ISWAP insurgency, which started in 2009.

With the restoration of relative peace and security in many communities, the Borno State government has begun repatriating refugees from neighbouring countries, including Chad, Niger and Cameroon, and resettling internally displaced persons in their ancestral hometowns.

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO