Nigerian refugees in Cameroon return home

Thousands of Nigerian refugees are continuing their journey back home from refugee camps in Cameroon.

So far, the numbers now exceed 15,000 people, a government official in Gambaru which borders Cameroon in north east Nigeria said on Friday.

The refugees are crossing over a 300 metre bridge that separates Gambaru in Nigeria and Fotokol in Cameroon.

“We found a looted and burnt city which is now a shadow of its former self,” said Abacha Mari, one of the refugees.

Gambaru had been the target of numerous Islamist attacks before being captured by Boko Haram in August 2014.

According to reports,the process is being coordinated by the Cameroonian army and local authorities in Gambaru.

Boko Haram has claimed more than 17,000 lives in Nigeria and more than 2.5 million displaced since 2009.