Cameroon forcibly returned 100,000 Nigerian refugees

Cameroon forcibly returned 100,000 Nigerian refugees in breach of international agreements, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.

The rights group accused soldiers of deporting refugees escaping Islamist violence, as well as attacking and sexually exploiting them.

Cameroon is "punishing" refugees for Boko Haram attacks, HRW said. Cameroon has rejected similar accusations previously, saying Nigerians have returned willingly.

"Since early 2015, the Cameroonian authorities have summarily deported at least 100,000 Nigerians living in remote border areas back to war, displacement and destitution in Nigeria's Borno state," HRW said in a report. "In carrying out these deportations, Cameroonian soldiers have frequently used extreme physical violence."

UCJ, UNILORIN.