85 Nigerian refugees denied entry in the far North

A contingent consisting of 40 children, 32 women and 13 men, fleeing the abuses of the Islamist sect Nigerian Boko Haram in their country and who had found asylum in the Cameroonian Department of Mayo-Tsanaga (Extreme North), have been restricted at the border last Monday following a prefectoral Decree.

The administrative authority, which has passed this measure to all sous-préfets, traditional leaders and vigilance committees, prescribed the systematic repression of Nigerian migrants that attempt to find asylum in Cameroon or transiting.

This decision itself follows a Government statement requiring the restriction of movement of people and goods coming from or in countries affected by Ebola haemorrhagic fever, plus the risk of contagion to polio and cholera occurring in the discharge Nigeria.

This comes as the Cameroonian army intensifies its offensive against Boko Haram, which in recent weeks has lost dozens of members during attacks in the border region of the far North.

Faced with the intensity of the fighting in the border, the Office of High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) opened a refugee camp at Minawou which currently has over 11,000 people.