Rep Zoro criticises Cameroon's deportation of Nigerian

refugees
Rep. Sani Zoro (APC-Gumel/Maigatari/Sulatankarkar/Gagarawa) in Jigawa has criticised the
incessant deportation of Nigerian refugees by Cameroonian authorities. Zoro, former National
President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, made the criticism while speaking with newsmen on
Sunday in Dutse.

He recalled that the Cameroonian authorities had in 2015 deported 20,000 Nigerian refugees. The
lawmaker noted that authorities in Cameroons were planning to deport 18,000 additional Nigerian
refugees. ``Last week on Wednesday, I moved a motion, which was passed by the House of
Representatives, criticising the incessant deportation of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon.

``As at December last year, Cameroon had illegally deported 20,000 Nigerian refugees. ``According
to its officials, by March this year, 18,000 Nigerian refugees will again be deported," he
lamented. Zoro described Cameroon's action as ``unAfrican, unfriendly and hostile".

According to him, the action has contravened all charters and conventions on human and peoples
right, and international human rights, which both countries had endorsed. He added that the
gesture also contravened ``quite a number of resolutions and protocols that have been passed in
favour of refugees''.

The legislator said the action of Cameroon raised not only concerns, but also suspicions about its
commitments towards the resolutions of the North-eastern crisis, including its multi-territorial force
to fight the insurgency in Nigeria.

Besides, the lawmaker noted that the action of Cameroon further raised concerns and suspicions
towards its commitments toward a lasting or durable solutions to the resettlement of Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. According to him,
the House of Representatives will soon constitute a team to be led by the Deputy Speaker or

Majority Leader, to visit the Cameroonian parliament. Zoro added that the team would also meet
the Speaker of the Cameroonian parliament to express displeasure of Nigeria, and draw his
attention on the conventions, protocols and all resolutions violated by his country.

He added that the House had earlier asked the Federal Government, through the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, to summon the Cameroonian Ambassador in Nigeria, to register Nigeria's displeasure over
the incidents. According to him, the House will also consider any other measure necessary to bring
to the notice of the Cameroonian authorities that the frequent deportation of Nigerian refugees is
unacceptable.

``In other words, we are still at the diplomatic stage; we wont want the situation to degenerate,'' he
said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lawmaker is the Chairman, House
Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). (NAN)
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