6 February 2008
Lagos — Following heavy fighting between Chadian government forces and rebels in Ndjamena, more than 2000 refugees have fled to the Nigerian border town, Gamboru-Ngala.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the area yesterday, reports that more than 80 per cent of them were women and children.
The Controller of Immigration in Borno, Alhaji Sambo Gwandu, who was at the border town to assess the situation, said they had registered more than 600 Chadians, 500 Nigeriens, 300 Nigerians and two Ghanaians.
He said intelligent reports had shown that more than 6000 more were on their way from Kusiri, a Cameroonian town sharing international boundary with Chad, and about 30 km from Gamboru.
Most of the refugees said they trekked from Ndjamena to Kusiri, a distance of about 100 km, and later made it to Gamboru Ngala, going for three days without food.
Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, yesterday raised alarm over the impending refugee crisis in states bordering Nigeria and Chad Republic, now embroiled in a civil strife.
Bankole had, after approving the Votes and Proceeding of Thursday January 31, told the committee on Defence to meet immediately after the sitting, so that urgent steps could be taken to avert the influx of refugees.
He also asked lawmakers from Jigawa State to intervene in the problem caused by invasion of foreign herdsmen from Chad, Niger and Mali.
Similarly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, has said that security agents have been put on the alert in order to avoid a spillover of the Chadian crisis to Nigeria.
Maduekwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday at Obudu Ranch Resort in Cross River State that "security agencies are monitoring the situation given that Nigeria shares common border with Chad."
"We want to assure Nigerians in that country and our communities around the boundaries that they are safe," he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno yesterday visited the area and directed the local government to provide food and shelter for the refugees.
He also asked the Borno State Emergency Relief Agency to provide blankets, mattresses and other materials to the refugees.
The governor further directed that the refugees be accommodated at the newly-completed state housing estate at Gamboru-Ngala. Officials of the National Boundary Commission and the Red Cross have also arrived at the town.
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