NEMA Takes Custody of 6,000 Nigerians Deported from Niger

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday said so far, it had taken custody of over 6,000 Nigerians deported from Niger.

The agency’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, told journalists in Geidam that the agency had received over 3,000 Nigerians sent parking from Niger Republic by the neighbouring country.

He added that “We just received communication from Nigerien government that another set of 3,000 persons are been sent to us.

“We will be going to the border post to take custody of the people.”

He said they are not ruling out the figure further growing beyond 6,000, stressing that before “we came here the information we received from Niger is that about 2,000 Nigerians would be delivered to us but now see what we have on ground.”

He insisted that “We are going to remain in Geidam as long as it takes to evacuate the people to their respective states. Geidam is acting as a transit town and we have two camps, one at the stadium and the other at a primary school in town.”

Otegbade also revealed that the returnees are from 10 states of the federation including Taraba, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Kano.

He said arrangements had been made to transport them to their respective states, stressing that already contacts had been made with the affected states emergency management agencies.

He revealed that most of those who arrived were without any health issue as they were stable.

Otegbade however said three pregnant women in the first batch complained about some minor health challenges and they were taken to health facilities in Geidam.

THISDAY noticed that most of the deportees are fishermen who left Nigeria for Niger to fish on the islands of the country.

Some of them who spoke to THISDAY, claimed that they were treated harshly by the Nigerien military.

One of them, Danjuma Agaga, said they had to trek a long distance before they got transport to Nigeria.

Another, a pregnant woman, Fatima Ali, said during the long trek, four pregnant women died.

She said there are many Nigerians who would have loved to come back home but still trapped in the area.

Ali asked the Nigerian government to ensure that everyone is returned safely back home.