The
federal government Thursday condemned the attack on Nigerians living in Bakassi
Peninsula, which is under Cameroonian sovereignty, and assured the people that
it was taking measures to protect them from further attacks by that country’s
gendarmes.
federal government Thursday condemned the attack on Nigerians living in Bakassi
Peninsula, which is under Cameroonian sovereignty, and assured the people that
it was taking measures to protect them from further attacks by that country’s
gendarmes.
Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, told State House
correspondents in Abuja at the end of the meeting of the Presidential Committee
on Bakassi and Rights of the Displaced People that the government would ensure
that the belligerence on the part of the gendarmes is checked.
correspondents in Abuja at the end of the meeting of the Presidential Committee
on Bakassi and Rights of the Displaced People that the government would ensure
that the belligerence on the part of the gendarmes is checked.
At the meeting, Vice-President Namadi Sambo directed the
committee to ensure that it submitted its final report this month on the
relocation of the Bakassi people.
committee to ensure that it submitted its final report this month on the
relocation of the Bakassi people.
Moro spoke against the backdrop of the recent attack on Nigerians
living in the oil-rich peninsula, which Nigeria gave up following the judgment
of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that awarded the territory to
Cameroun.
living in the oil-rich peninsula, which Nigeria gave up following the judgment
of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that awarded the territory to
Cameroun.
Some 17 persons were feared killed and about 1,900 displaced
when the Cameroonian gendarmes attacked them in their village, Efut Obot Ikot.
when the Cameroonian gendarmes attacked them in their village, Efut Obot Ikot.
The displaced Nigerians, according to a Bakassi leader and
former National Assembly Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator
Florence Ita-Giwa, fled through the forest to escape to Nigeria.
former National Assembly Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator
Florence Ita-Giwa, fled through the forest to escape to Nigeria.
They were later camped at St. Mark’s Primary School, Eyo Edem in
Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Moro said a report of what happened to the Nigerians had been
submitted to the government and was being studied with a view to taking appropriate
steps.
submitted to the government and was being studied with a view to taking appropriate
steps.
According to him, the final report of the presidential committee
would be ready soon, pointing out that government would ensure the
implementation of the committee’s recommendations that would ease the hardships
brought on them by their forced relocation from Bakassi.
would be ready soon, pointing out that government would ensure the
implementation of the committee’s recommendations that would ease the hardships
brought on them by their forced relocation from Bakassi.
He explained that the federal government was working closely
with all stakeholders, including the affected state governments, in finding a
lasting solution to the plight of the Bakassi people.
with all stakeholders, including the affected state governments, in finding a
lasting solution to the plight of the Bakassi people.
He however urged the victims of the Cameroonian aggression to
remain calm as government was determined to ensure that they are protected from
further attacks.
remain calm as government was determined to ensure that they are protected from
further attacks.
He called on them to exercise patience and persevere while
government was taking steps to ensure their safety in the peninsula.
government was taking steps to ensure their safety in the peninsula.
He said: “As it is now, as a good player on the international
scene, Nigeria has subscribed to the Green Tree Agreement and on our own part
as a country, we will continue to abide by the provisions of the agreement.
scene, Nigeria has subscribed to the Green Tree Agreement and on our own part
as a country, we will continue to abide by the provisions of the agreement.
“For one reason or the other, resulting from little skirmishes
here and there, the Cameroonian gendarmes have attacked some innocent
Nigerians.
here and there, the Cameroonian gendarmes have attacked some innocent
Nigerians.
“I think at the moment we should not be attempting to segment
solutions. The present crisis that we find in Bakassi is a Nigerian crisis and
the Nigerian government is taking every step in conjunction with state
governments to address the situation.
solutions. The present crisis that we find in Bakassi is a Nigerian crisis and
the Nigerian government is taking every step in conjunction with state
governments to address the situation.
“And so, the right thing to do is to look up to the decision of
government as to what to do with the Bakassi people, because the Bakassi people
are Nigerians.”
government as to what to do with the Bakassi people, because the Bakassi people
are Nigerians.”
At the meeting, Sambo directed the presidential committee to
file its final report this month to hasten the process of the relocation of the
Bakassi people.
file its final report this month to hasten the process of the relocation of the
Bakassi people.
Sambo said all the issues regarding the peninsula and its
estranged people must be quickly addressed before the end of August, thus
necessitating the need for the quick submission of the report.
estranged people must be quickly addressed before the end of August, thus
necessitating the need for the quick submission of the report.
He advised that the report should include the timeframe to guide
government on what to do, as the committee has four months left to conclude
everything concerning the plight of the Bakassi people.
government on what to do, as the committee has four months left to conclude
everything concerning the plight of the Bakassi people.
He told the committee that funds would be made available to them
so as to discharge their duties accordingly.
so as to discharge their duties accordingly.
Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State and Chairman
of the presidential committee, Mr. Efiok Cobham, commended the efforts of the
government to address the plight of the Bakassi people.
of the presidential committee, Mr. Efiok Cobham, commended the efforts of the
government to address the plight of the Bakassi people.
He stressed the need for the committee members to visit Bakassi
and to ascertain the area where the people want to be resettled.
and to ascertain the area where the people want to be resettled.
Source: Thisday
