The Nigerian government has decided to close the Intikane refugee camp in Tillia prefecture, 60 km from the Malian border, home to Malian refugees and internally displaced Nigerians. It is infiltrated by jihadists and is also in the way of drug traffickers.
as reported from Niamey, Moussa Kaka
The decision to close the Intikane refugee camp with its 20,000 people was made by Tahoua’s regional security council. It mainly follows the massacre of over 150 civilians March 21 by jihadists in Bakorat and Intazayene.
According to Interior Ministry Secretary General Saidou Halidou, who travels in the area, the closure is irrevocable. It is linked to the prevailing uncertainty in the area due to the existence of this refugee camp.
In reality, this Intikane camp, supported by the Nigerian state and humanitarian NGOs such as the UNHCR, is being infiltrated by terrorists fleeing the operations, according to services in the Tahoua region. “The state can no longer allow people to engage in criminal economic activity,” insisted the Secretary-General of the Interior Ministry.
Relocation far from the border
According to the general secretary of the Tahoua region, Miko Ibrahim, the southern part of the camp is no longer functional and all food distribution activities in the refugee reception area at Intikane have been suspended.
Humanitarian NGOs say they take note of the Nigerian government’s decision and will support it in relocating the new website. In an emergency, the camp was moved to Akadani, much further south, more than 150 km from the Malian border and in the middle of the Nigerian Asawa area. Humanitarian aid will resume at the new site, based on new censuses, it said. A technical committee with humanitarian partners has been set up. He will give recommendations on moving the site to Akadani.
The camp is also on its way for drug traffickers on the northern Mali axis, the northern Nigerian Tames and Libya. By closing it, the state wants to control this border strip and better fight the jihadists far from civilian populations.
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