Nigerian refugees currently in the border areas of Niger Republic may soon return home three weeks after Boko Haram forced them to flee their homes, as Borno state deputy governor, Zannah Mustapha, at the weekend, visited and assured them of safety.

Mr. Mustapha's assurance came as violence erupted in neighbouring Yobe state where suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 20 students and a teacher in a school raid.

Officials of Diffa Province in Niger Republic said a total of 6,240 displaced persons fled from the Nigerian border villages into their country.

The Secretary General of Diffa province, Hassan Ardo, revealed this after receiving the Nigerian deputy governor of Borno state, Zannah Mustapha, in Bosso Council of Diffa province where some of the refugees were being hosted.

Mr. Mustapha was in the Nigerien border area to plead and assure the refugees to return to their homes, as he said adequate security have been provided to secure them from further attacks.

Mr. Ardo said the refugees comprised of Nigerian citizens and Nigeriens living in Nigeria.

The Secretary General of Diffa said at least 1500 Nigerians were received in Bosso council of Diffa, and have been hosted and catered for since their arrival three weeks ago.

Displaced men, women and children recalled their ordeal before getting to the safe haven provided by the Nigerien government.

A young female refuge, Kaka Fanta, 18 years, told journalist through an interpreter that it was the sound of gun fighting between the Boko Haram terrorists and soldiers that forced her and her parents to flee into Bosso.

"We've been here for three weeks now," said Fanta. "There is no camp here either; the people receive us in their various homes. The first day we escaped into Bosso the town ran out of drinking water, until authority here began to supplement the water through water tanks."

Madi Bukar, a local cab driver told PREMIUM TIMES reporter who also visited Bosso that "bullets fell like insects on the day the gunmen engaged security operatives in Malumfatori."

"The trouble started when soldiers got the hint that some injured Boko Haram members were being kept and given medical treatment in a particular house in Malumfatori," Bukar said.

"When the soldiers surrounded the said house, there were shootings from within and the soldiers fired into the house but it seemed, as we learnt the soldiers firearm had no effect on the terrorists who came out and fled. Houses were burnt and more than 3000 people ran to Bosso. Many of us are tired of being refugees in other people's homes; we want to return home but we are still afraid of home."

Deputy Governor of Borno state said the Nigerian military had fully taken control of Malumfatori and have made the area safe for their return.

He thanked the government of Niger for keeping the flag of the two country's brotherhood flying, especially all through the period of the conflict.

"We have come to thank the Niger government for taking in our displaced citizens after Boko Haram insurgency forced them out of their homes back in Nigeria. We want to assure you that life has been restored to normalcy and you all should return home so that you don't overstay your welcome and out stretch your kind hosts," said the Deputy Governor.

The secretary General of Diffa province expressed concerns over the continuing civil conflict ravaging some parts of Nigeria even as he said government of Niger will not for once be tired of assisting the troubled Africa's giant in the best way it could.

Mr Ardo said apart from Bosso town some of the refugees are also camped in Kabalewa, Chugudan, Garin-Ahmadu and Diffa.

High point of the visit was general administration of polio vaccines to under aged displaced children and distribution of treated mosquito nets.

Malumfatori is one of Nigeria's furthest border town in northeast, about six hours drive mostly on desert dunes from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.