Chad Repatriates At Least 600 Nigerians Over Irregular Migration
According to Barkindo, the repatriated migrants were primarily from Borno, Kano, Sokoto and Kaduna states and had entered Chad without proper documentation.
The Chadian government has reportedly repatriated at least 600 Nigerians classified as irregular migrants who were allegedly found engaging in begging activities.
The Director-General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Muhammed Barkindo, on Monday disclosed the news of the repatriated Nigerians to newsmen while profiling the refugees in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
Irregular migrants are people who cross international borders or reside in a country without the necessary legal permission including entering a country with false documents or without crossing an official border; staying in a country without a valid visa or residence permit, being employed in a country even though the conditions of their residence prevent them from doing so.
Irregular migration is different from illegal immigration because seeking asylum through irregular travel is not a crime.
Recall that thousands of Nigerians have been fleeing Nigeria’s terrorists-ravaged Borno state, especially in 2019 at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency to take refuge in neighbouring countries of Chad and Cameroon.
According to Barkindo, the repatriated migrants were primarily from Borno, Kano, Sokoto and Kaduna states and had entered Chad without proper documentation.
He noted that many of them were reportedly living in precarious conditions and resorted to street begging in various parts of the country as a means of survival.
He said that SEMA had provided them with logistics support and basic necessities, including food and N10, 000 as transport before their departure to their respective states.
Barkindo also said that many of the repatriated Nigerians expressed the desire to return home due to the hardships they faced in Chad.
