IPOB members chase away security operatives, hoist flag in Cross River

Many young men, under the aegis of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), hoisted the flag of Biafra at the entry point into Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State on Thursday morning.

The men intimidated residents who attempted to resist them. The residents were insisting that Bakassi in Cross River State can never be part of Biafra.

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According to residents, the IPOB members stormed the area, chased away security men who manned the “Welcome To Bakassi” entry point and hoisted their flag.

However, Daily Trust gathered that the authorities swiftly deployed more security men to the area who eventually disperse the hoodlums.

Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Hon Iyadim Iyadim, confirmed the incident but said security men came and removed the flag.

“By hoisting the Biafra flag, the boys may not know the consequences of their action.

“Some of these boys are ignorant, some are used by external forces.

“We have made them know that we are not taking their matter lightly.

“Security men have been deployed to the area. In fact, we have placed a temporary curfew in the LGA from 7pm.”

The chairman explained that the deteriorating security situation in Bakassi is compounded by the non-settlement of the Bakassi people and the government’s failure to fulfil its promise to ex-Niger Delta militants who dropped their arms to embrace amnesty.

“The government had asked these agitators to down their tools and embrace amnesty and they were more than 500 who surrendered.

“We have done everything to curtail the activities of these boys. We used operatives to arrest them but the problem will never be stopped by that approach,” he said.

A resident, Emmanuel Okon, said that residents of Ikot Okon Ekpri Iwong, Ikot Edem Oku, Ikang, live in fear as they are attacked by cultists and armed robbers almost on daily basis.