Hundreds of Nigerians residing in Chad have been rounded up and deported in a security operation targeting undocumented migrants, according to accounts from some of those affected.
The development comes against the backdrop of a prolonged insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, driven by Boko Haram, which has persisted since 2009 and spilled into neighbouring countries including Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Some deportees told AFP that about 600 Nigerians were arrested during coordinated raids and subsequently forced out of the country, with many dropped off in the border town of Kousseri, located near Chad’s capital, N’Djamena.
Chadian police authorities confirmed that deportations occurred but declined to provide specific figures, describing the exercise as a routine operation aimed at undocumented foreigners, irrespective of nationality.
One of the affected Nigerians, Kyari Musa, said security operatives stormed his residence in N’Djamena and accused Nigerians of links to insurgent groups.
“They told us all Nigerian refugees were members of Boko Haram and must leave,” he said, adding that their biometric data were captured and warnings issued against returning.
Another victim, Ari Modu, who claimed he was released on bail, said the arrests began midweek, with hundreds detained over several days.
He estimated that about 227 individuals were picked up on the first day, while an additional 371 were arrested in subsequent raids.
Many of those detained were later transported towards Nigeria’s border, including the town of Gamboru, where they were reportedly abandoned.
Reacting, Chad’s Deputy Director General of Police, Paul Manga, maintained that the operation was not targeted at any specific group, insisting it was a lawful enforcement action against irregular migration.
“This is not a witch hunt,” he said, noting that those affected were simply escorted to the border after being identified.
The incident comes amid renewed concerns by security analysts over increased militant activities in northeastern Nigeria in recent months.
Nigeria’s protracted conflict has continued to impact the Lake Chad region, with many displaced persons seeking refuge across borders, only to face fresh uncertainties, including deportation.
Some returnees have previously reported difficult conditions upon arriving back in Nigeria, including insecurity in their home communities and limited economic opportunities in safer urban centres, prompting some to attempt a return to Chad.
