Nigerian returnees, who fled to Cameroon to seek safety as a
result of the deadly activities of the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria’s North-East,
have accused men of the Cameroonian police of theft.
Last week, the National Emergency Management Agency
announced the return of 12,000 Nigerians from Cameroon, saying most of them
were camped in Adamawa State.
The returnees, who were mainly from Borno State, had fled
their homes as a result of attacks from the Boko Haram insurgents.
It was gathered from some of the returnees that they were
allegedly manhandled by police officers in Cameroon. He said their belongings
and cash were forcefully taken by the armed men.
One of the returnees, who claimed to be the chairman of
those that were camped at Mubi in Adamawa State, Mr. Mustapha Galanbari, stated
that Nigerians who fled the troubled states to Cameroon were being hunted by
police officers in the neighbouring country.
He said, “On my way to the market, I was arrested. My
clothes and everything I have are with them in Cameroon. The clothe I’m wearing
now is the only piece that I have. They arrested me and many Nigerians as well.
“On our way back from Cameroon, the Cameroonian police
collected all our money. We don’t have money. Now, I’m a father with 12 people
and I don’t have even N100 because they collected all my money. They collected
all the money on most of us who made it to Nigeria.”
Asked why the Cameroonian officers collected their
belongings and monies, Galanbari said,
“I don’t know. When they see you, they’ll ask you if you are
from Nigeria. If you say yes, they will arrest you, take you to the police
station, search you and remove all the money on you and put you in their cell.”
When Punch correspondent contacted the Cameroon High
Commission in Abuja, a lady who simply gave her name as Esther said she was not
authorised to speak on the matter.
Punch
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