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19,598 Cameroonian asylum seekers (2,432 households) were forcibly displaced to Adamawa State in North-East Nigeria due to NSAG attacks in the Far North Region of Cameroon.
UNHCR and its partners reached over 51,610 IDPs, returnees, and host community members through a protection monitoring exercise, including 14,250 men, 23,230 women, 6,000 boys, and 8,130 girls in the BAY States.
UNHCR and partners reached 34,640 individuals in the BAY States through awareness raising activities on peaceful co-existence, referral pathways, and prevention of Gender-Based Violence and sexual exploitation and abuse.
Operational Highlights
■ On 25 February, Non-State Armed Group (NSAG) members fired indiscriminately at a crowd who had gathered to vote in the presidential and National Assembly elections in Gwoza town. A woman was gravely wounded during the attack, and five boys sustained various injuries.
■ More than 1,660 civilians were affected by safety and security incidents in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) States, including armed attacks, IEDs, abductions, illegal vehicle checkpoints, crime, civil unrest, and kidnappings. Other cases included killings, looting, theft, and extortion.
Most incidents (80 per cent) took place in Borno State.
■ In Borno State, fire razed IDP camps and settlements in Monguno, Damasak, Dikwa, Banki, and Maiduguri Municipal Council, injuring many IDPs, and destroying shelters, properties, and food, thereby further exacerbating the hardship and risks faced by the members of the affected population.
■ In Yobe State, NSAG members killed the village head of Bulturam, a return village in Gujba LGA. The incident forced the community members to flee to neighbouring Maduri community in Damaturu LGA.
■ Meanwhile, in Adamawa State, the State government suspended activities of local and international Non-Governmental Organizations throughout the State until 19 March 2023 on the allegation that they were interfering in political activities.
POPULATION MOVEMENTS
■ In February, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) data indicated that 4,570 people were displaced in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) States. In Borno State, there were new arrivals in Askira/Uba, Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza, Gubio, Kala Balge, Monguno, and Ngala LGAs, while in Adamawa, they were recorded in Fufore, Girei, Gombi, Hong, Lamurde, Michika, Maiha, Mubi North, Yola North, Yola South, and Song LGAs. New arrivals were also registered in Bade LGA of Yobe State. Most people reportedly moved either to reunite with their families because of improved security, to access humanitarian assistance, or because of fear of attack.
■ During the month, UNHCR and its partner Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), recorded nearly 3,288 refugee returnees (684 households), including 1,450 males and 1,840 females, from Niger. Over 80 per cent of them reported that they were not registered in their country of asylum. A total of 3,187 spontaneous refugee returnees entered Borno State, including 3,070 who returned from Niger to Damasak LGA, 105 from Cameroon to Gwoza LGA, and four from Cameroon Ngala LGA. Meanwhile, in Adamawa State, 101 spontaneous refugee returnees from Cameroon also arrived at Gurin LGA.
■ As of 16 February 2023, a cumulative figure of 19,598 Cameroonian asylum seekers (2,432 households) was recorded. They have since June 2022 been forcibly displaced to Adamawa State due to NSAG attacks in the Far North Region of Cameroon. A Level 1 (L1-family group) registration has been undertaken. There are also 1,279 individuals (212 households) that have not yet been registered because of the recent ban on humanitarian activities by the Adamawa State authorities in the wake of the gubernatorial and state legislative elections in Nigeria, which will take place on 18 March 2023.