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The United Nations said on Friday that it was "extremely alarmed" by the forced return of thousands of Cameroonian refugees in northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram Islamists pose a permanent threat to civilians.
"This action was totally unexpected and endangered the lives of thousands of refugees," said Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in a statement.
Cameroon has forced "several thousand" refugees to return to Nigeria this week, including 267 on Wednesday, the UN agency said.
"I appeal to Cameroon for it to maintain its policy of openness and hospitality," Grandi said while urging the government to immediately halt any return to the country and to "reign". fulfill its obligations under international law.
Cameroon has 370,000 refugees, including 100,000 Nigerians, according to UNHCR.
Earlier this month, more than 9,000 people fled to Cameroon after an attack on a military base and relief buildings in Rann, Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno.
The attack was blamed on the Boko Haram faction of the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) Province, which has been conducting similar raids against troops since last July.
The upsurge in violence has forced tens of thousands of people to flee, including internally displaced persons who have returned home after previous attacks.
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