Borno Residents Displaced by Boko Haram Attacks Seek Refuge in Cameroon Amid Security Concerns
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Borno Residents Displaced by Boko Haram Attacks Seek Refuge in Cameroon Amid Security Concerns |
The escalating insecurity in Borno State, Nigeria, has once again forced residents of Kirawa, a border town, to flee for safety. Following a series of violent Boko Haram attacks, many locals are now taking refuge in neighbouring Cameroonian villages, where they endure harsh and uncertain living conditions.
Life Between Two Countries
Residents reveal that they now spend their days in Nigeria but retreat to Cameroon at night to avoid potential midnight raids. This precarious routine began after a deadly attack on Saturday, which reportedly led to the withdrawal of troops from Kirawa.
Displaced families are scattered across border communities in Cameroon, sleeping on roadsides, in school classrooms, and inside mosques. Their displacement highlights the urgent need for improved security in Nigeria’s North-East region, where insurgency continues to threaten lives and livelihoods.
Military’s Response and Residents’ Reactions
The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, disputed reports of Nigerian troop withdrawal, insisting instead that it was the Cameroonian base in Kirawa that was attacked, not Nigerian soldiers.
However, residents strongly disagree. Yakubu Mabba, Chairman of the Kirawa Development Association, criticised the commander’s statement, claiming that there have been no Nigerian troops in the town for some time.
“If anyone wants to confirm that people were not displaced or kidnapped, they can come to Kirawa and see for themselves,” Mabba said. “We have no Nigerian troops protecting us — only foreign soldiers.”
Cameroonian Forces Guarding Nigerian Territory
According to Buba Aji, a local schoolteacher, the troops stationed in Kirawa are Cameroonian soldiers operating under the Joint Task Force arrangement established during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“They only speak French; most do not speak English. This language barrier makes it difficult for residents to communicate effectively with them,” Aji explained.
He recounted the night of the attack, describing hours of gunfire between 9pm and midnight. Many residents fled towards the riverbank bordering Nigeria and Cameroon, seeking shelter near an immigration office.
Cameroonian elite forces, known as Bataillon d’Intervention Rapide (BIR), eventually arrived to support the troops under attack. Despite their intervention, insurgents managed to kidnap Aisha Muhammad Aja, a junior secondary school student who had just completed her exams.
The attackers also burned down the residence of the district head (Lawan) and destroyed nearby shops before retreating.
Fear and Uncertainty as Protection Wanes
Residents estimate that up to 90% of Kirawa’s population fled to Cameroon that night. As of now, the kidnapped girl remains missing, and locals fear that the withdrawal of Cameroonian troops could leave the town vulnerable to future attacks.
One resident, who requested anonymity, criticised what he described as the military’s misplaced priorities:
“Instead of debating whether it was Nigerian or Cameroonian soldiers attacked, the real focus should be on our safety. Was there an attack or not? Was a Nigerian kidnapped or not? We need protection, not politics.”
A Call for Action
The ongoing insurgency in Borno State is a reminder of the urgent need for effective cross-border security cooperation and improved protection for vulnerable communities. As Nigerian troops are reportedly absent in Kirawa, residents are forced to rely on foreign forces they cannot communicate with — an arrangement that is neither sustainable nor secure.
For now, displaced families continue to balance life between Nigeria and Cameroon, waiting for a solution that will allow them to return home safely.
