BY: NEWS DESK.
About 7,790 Nigerian refugees who fled the Boko Haram insurgency are set to return to their ancestral homes.
The refugees, mostly from Borno State, have been living in Baga Sola, Chad, for nearly a decade.
Their repatriation is the result of a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Chad, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, led a delegation to Chad to kickstart the repatriation process.
'Only those that have voluntarily indicated interest in returning will be repatriated,' Gov. Zulum said while emphasizing the importance of voluntary repatriation.
The minister of humanitarian affairs, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, commended Gov. Zulum for his leadership and collaboration with the federal government.
'I want to thank the Executive Governor of Borno State for showing leadership during crises and serving as a role model in terms of complete collaboration with the federal government and for providing all the necessary support.
'He is a good example of FG/State collaboration,' the minister said.
The repatriation exercise is expected to be carried out in batches, with the first batch comprising 1,768 families.
The refugees will be returned to their ancestral homes, where they will be reintegrated into their communities.