Thousands of refugees from Cameroon on Thursday flee to
Nigeria via local southern and eastern borders, as violence between the
security forces and insurgence flared.
According to Reuters, about 60,000 refugees are in Naigeria
following last weekend general elections that saw nearly 8,000 Cameroonians
seek refuge in Nigeria.
The war was sparked by the government move to crack-down
violently on peaceful English Speaking demonstrators who were complaining of
marginalization by the French-Speaking majority.
According to a statement by United Nation Refugee Agency, more
Cameroonians are expected to come to Nigeria.
“We expects further arrivals as refugees inform that more
people are still in remote border areas and could be on their way trying to
reach Nigeria,”
“Refugees reported fleeing violence and some even arrived
across the border with gunshot wounds. According to new arrivals, most come
from areas near the border and have trekked across savannah and forests to
reach Nigeria,” read the statement in part.
Reuters report that the roots of Cameroonian English
speakers’ grievances dates back to the century of the League of Nations’
decision to split the former German colony of ‘Kamerun’ between the allied
French and British victors at the end of World War One.
President Paul Biya, who took power nearly 40 year ago, has
tried to calm the situation but the separatists are adamant that only their
independence will be enough.
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