By Francis Ogwo
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has disclosed that in April 2020, about 23,000 Nigerians have been forced into neighbouring Niger Republic, while trying to evade attacks by insurgents or caught in crossfires with government forces.
This current figure according to reports sums up the refugees population in Niger to be above 60,000 since they made their first entry into the country last year April.
The spokesman for UNCHR, Mr. Babar Baloch, during a media briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva yesterday, and a publish on the commission’s website, observed that residents had escaped in their numbers since April 2019, due to scare of relentless attacks by armed groups in Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina states with a huge population becoming refugees in Maradi region of the country.
“Fearing and fleeing the same insecurity in the border areas, an additional 19,000 Niger nationals have become displaced inside their own country,” he added.
Speaking further, he said that the UN refugee agency focuses on the worsening insecurity in Nigeria and its spillover effects into the neighborhood of Niger.
“The latest influx of refugees, mainly desperate women and children, follows attacks in Nigeria’s Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states during the month of April. Several villages in several local government areas were attacked by gunmen.
“The deadliest attack claimed 47 lives in Kankara, Danmusa and Dutsinma Local Government areas of Katsina State and prompted airstrikes by the Nigerian Armed Forces,” he added.
It would be recalled that the North Eastern part of Nigeria has known no peace with many, literally sleeping with one eye open. Many have left their homes and farmlands due to incessant attacks by insurgents.
Many have also fallen victim of ambush by the terrorists thereby rendering the area very unsafe, hence, the huge exit from the affected states.
