Nigerian govt directs security agencies to stop Cameroonian refugees from entering the country

The Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security agencies to stop Cameroonian refugees fleeing the southern part from gaining entrance into Nigeria.

This was revealed on Monday by State Deputy Governor, and chairman of the State Action Committee on COVID-19, Mr. Benson Abounu, who said that fleeing refugees must be stopped from entering the country through Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State to check the spread of COVID-19, pandemic, in the country.

Abounu made the announcement while inaugurating members of the 11 task forces constituted by the state government to enforce restriction of movement at the major interstate boundaries of the state.

He said; “The directive that came from the presidency is that we must stop every refugee coming from Cameroon from entering Benue state to help us check the spread of Coronavirus in our state and country.

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“That order did not stop us from allowing Nigerians into their own country but certainly not citizens of other countries who might expose our people to the pandemic,” Abounu explained.

Speaking further during the inauguration, Abounu said that the task force members on inter-state boundaries were not on a mission to stop interstate movements but to ensure that travelers were checked and their temperatures taken to determine their health status.

“Where the health status of any traveler is suspicious, such a person must be asked to step aside for observation and necessary checks and tests for the virus. The task force must ensure that the destination of every traveler is revealed to know those coming into the state for all necessary action to ensure that no one brings the virus into the state. The essence is to ensure that our people are protected,” he added.

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