The government of Chad has deported over 600 Nigerian migrants who were reportedly involved in street begging and other illegal activities. The affected individuals, mostly from Borno, Kano, Sokoto, and Kaduna states in northern Nigeria, had fled their homes during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency and sought refuge in neighboring countries like Chad and Cameroon.
Muhammed Barkindo, Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), revealed the development during a profiling exercise for the deportees in Maiduguri on Monday. He noted that these migrants had entered Chad without proper documentation and were living under harsh conditions.
Barkindo explained that many of them had been struggling to survive, resorting to precarious activities such as street begging. To assist their transition, SEMA provided the deported individuals with basic necessities, including food supplies and logistics support. Each person also received N10,000 to cover transportation costs back to their respective states.
The deportation shows the challenges faced by displaced individuals who fled violence in northern Nigeria. Many of these migrants left their homes under dire circumstances but struggled to establish stable lives in neighboring countries due to a lack of proper documentation and limited resources.
Efforts to support their reintegration into Nigerian society are ongoing, with SEMA and other agencies coordinating the provision of essential aid. These measures aim to alleviate the immediate challenges faced by the deportees while ensuring their safe return to their communities.