Around 30 000 people fled into Cameroon at the weekend from the Nigerian city of Rann

Thousands Flee Nigeria Fearing Militant Attack

Around 30 000 people fled into Cameroon at the weekend from the Nigerian city of Rann, fearing an attack by Boko Haram militants, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told a regular UN briefing in Geneva that the exodus followed the departure of Cameroonian forces that had moved to secure the city, following an attack by Boko Haram on Rann on Janaury 14.

“Because Cameroon is part of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, their military went in to secure Rann. So it was peaceful (for a while) but as far as we understand now, that Multi-National Task Force has left,” Baloch said.

Refugees reported that Boko Haram had promised to return to the city, which originally had an estimated population of about 80 000, he said.

“So all the population seems to be panicking and they are on the run as a pre-emptive measure to save their lives,” Baloch said.

“This is quite worrying and alarming.” Immediately after the January 14 attack, 9000 people fled into Cameroon but they were refused asylum and sent back to Nigeria by Cameroonian authorities.