By Correspondent.
As conscious efforts are being made by the Nigerian government and other governments in West Africa to abate insecurity in the sub continent, report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) says more than 200,000 Nigerians, out of at least 600,000 refugees and Internally Displaced Person’s(IDPs) are currently in neighbouring Niger Republic as refugees.
The report indicated that out of the figure, Nigeria alone has more than 200,000 refugees.
It added that in November 2021 alone, 11,500 people fled Nigeria to Niger, attributing their migration to the killings, kidnappings and looting by bandits.
The report titled, ‘Killings, kidnappings and looting force 11,500 Nigerians to flee to Niger”.
It read: “UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is alarmed by repeated attacks in Nigeria which forced more than 11,500 people to flee across the border into neighbouring Niger in November.
“Armed groups, locally called ‘bandits’ have repeatedly attacked villages in Sokoto State in Nigeria’s North West in recent weeks. The violence comes against the backdrop of inter communal clashes between farmers and herders as competition increases for dwindling resources, aggravated by the climate crisis.
“We are deeply concerned by the surging violence in North West Nigeria and call for concerted and massive support to address the growing humanitarian needs of the affected population, ranging from protection services to food, shelter kits, kitchen utensils, blankets and other non-food items.
“Most of the November arrivals have taken shelter with local communities in 26 villages across Bangui, a rural community in Niger’s Tahoua region which was already hosting 3,500 Nigerian refugees since September.
“Women and children make up the majority of the recent arrivals.
“Niger now hosts more than 200,000 Nigerian refugees, including more than 57,000 refugees from North West Nigeria in Maradi region and 15,000 in Tahoua region.
“UNHCR commends Niger as an example of solidarity and generosity in a region grappling with escalating crises. It has given shelter to 600,000 refugees and internally displaced people, despite violence at its border regions, economic hardship, social challenges, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The agency however raised the alarm that humanitarian efforts to respond to the emergency are dangerously overstretched in Niger, calling for increased support.
Source: UNHCR.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
