Nigeria Faces Threat of More LGAs to Cameroon After Bakassi
Twenty-one years after the loss of the Bakassi Peninsula, Nigeria is once again facing the imminent threat of losing three additional local councils and communities to Cameroon. The Ambazonian separatists have carried out a brutal attack on the peaceful community of Belegete in the Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State, as well as in the Boki and Etung LGAs.
This shocking and violent assault has resulted in a trail of death and destruction, including the assassination of a traditional ruler, HRH Chief Ogweshi Francis, and the abduction of 29 individuals from the Belegete community. Many Nigerians have fled in fear, seeking refuge in a nearby ranch, while the victims are in desperate need of support and protection.
Mr. Peter Akpanke, the House of Representatives member representing Obanliku/Bekwarra/Obudu Federal Constituency, emphasizes the urgent need for international intervention and the support of the Nigerian government in addressing these violent attacks. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, has assured the public that the government is actively engaging in measures to assist and safeguard those affected.
Mr. Richard Inoyo, the Country Director of the Citizens’ Solution Network, has urged the Federal Government to act swiftly, emphasizing the impact of the Ambazonian separatists’ attacks on Cross River and Nigeria. He highlighted the destruction of villages, kidnapping, and mass displacement of Nigerian citizens living in the affected LGAs due to the separatists’ actions.
The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State, CP Augustine Grimah, has assured that joint security forces have been mobilized to launch a comprehensive operation to restore calmness in the area. However, the absence of the Nigerian Military to protect these communities is further endangering the besieged LGAs, with hundreds being displaced from their ancestral homes and some people killed.
The Citizens’ Solution Network is calling on the Nigerian Government and the Cross River State Government to provide urgent security and humanitarian relief materials to the affected communities, along with medical support and assistance for those in need. The organization is also urging the Nigerian President and the Governor of Cross River State to bring the needed assistance and security to the people in Obanliku urgently.
In light of these distressing events, it has become imperative for the international community to intervene promptly and collaborate with the Nigerian government to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The grave escalation in the aggression of the Ambazonian separatists has put innocent civilians at risk, and it is crucial for immediate action to be taken to prevent further suffering and loss of life in the affected areas.
It is evident that these violent incursions are causing significant harm to the affected LGAs and endangering the lives of their residents. Urgent and decisive measures are needed to address this escalating crisis and restore peace and stability to the region. It is essential for governmental authorities and the international community to work together to protect the affected communities and bring an end to the violence perpetrated by the Ambazonian separatists.
