A number of borderline communities in Cross River State are presently bearing the brunt of the ongoing armed conflict between the state of Cameroon and the independence-seeking southwest region of the country, called Ambazonia.
These communities suffer continual daily attacks from armed gangs even as refuge-seeking Cameroonians are fleeing the insurrection now in its seventh year in Cross River State.
Apart from perpetually living in fear of being attacked and killed, the people are worried that, if nothing is done by the Nigerian authorities, they may soon be annexed by the French-speaking country or the Ambazonian rebels.
The people of the Belegete community in Obanliku LGA of the state, with depthless ravines, have said they risked being claimed by the Ambazonian rebels who regularly moved into their communities.
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The separatist fighters had overrun the communities on December 5, 2023, hoisted their flag, occupied the territory for upward of two weeks and allegedly committed atrocities. They were not challenged by Nigerian security forces who could not access the difficult terrain, according to locals.
According to the community leaders, the Ambazonia rebels had abducted over 30 Belegete people, killed their clan head, Chief Francis Okweshi, and raped women.
The Belegete people attributed the invasion to the inaccessible terrain, which made it easier for the Ambazonian rebels to cross in than it was for state security agencies to gain access.
They now fear that they will eventually suffer the fate of Bakassi communities that have been ceded to Cameroon if nothing is done to stem the ongoing invasion of their community.
Another borderline community that suffers from attacks is Okwa, also in Obanliku LGA, which also recently suffered a spillover of the conflict in Cameroon. The Amba Boys fleeing hostility from President Paul Biya’s forces attacked the Okwa community, raped their women, destroyed their farmlands, barred the locals from their farms and markets, and killed some folks.
Narrating their ordeal in the hands of Ambazonia separatists, the Belegete village head, Chief John Abraham said the rebels had terrorised, raped, maimed and abducted over 120 people.
He said his people were peacefully carrying on their daily activities when they struck.
“People who were returning from their farms, markets, and other personal endeavours were attacked mercilessly and some were killed while others were maimed.
“I can tell you that the attack was unprovoked and unwarranted. The people of Belegete did not know anything about the Ambazonian separatists until the attack on their community.
“As a border community, we have seen people crisscrossing the area for their businesses without any hindrance. But on this black day, they were attacked by unknown gunmen. They were later informed that they were fleeing separatists from Cameroon and perhaps they were in search of shelter and supplies.”
Abraham called on the federal government to establish communication facilities and joint security presence to give his people hope and a sense of belonging.
One of the displaced Belegete people said, “The invasion occurred about 4am on December 5, 2023, when we were awakened by the desperate screams of men, women, and children. We were facing well-armed men on a mission to kill, pillage, and abduct members of our community.
“We made several reports to security officials who sent personnel but could not access our community due to the long distance and difficulty of the terrain. The gangs later planted a flag in Belegete claiming it is their territory.”
Last year 2023, there were reports about further attempts by Cameroon to annex Danare and Biajua communities located in Boki LGA, a 30-minute walk into Cameroon.
Fishermen suffer attacks from pirates
Also, many fishermen of Niger Delta origin residing in the creeks of Bakassi Peninsula have complained of daily attacks by pirates.
In Ine Utang, one of the fishing settlements, a short distance from Cameroon, the fishermen said they were robbed every day.
According to those who spoke to Daily Trust, the gunmen lurked around in the mangroves to attack.
One of the residents, who gave his name as Akpan Asuquo, said they pounced on them using speed boats and carted away their money, fish, petrol and food items.
“They come to attack us any time. They will cart away our crayfish, fish, money, fuel and other valuables. We suffer this every day. When the navy visited us with food and medicine, they attacked us as soon as they left and collected what they gave us,” he said.
Apart from Ine Utang, there are nine other settlements in the creeks that depend mostly on the river for livelihood.
The people live in thatched houses without any social amenities like public power supply, primary health facility, pipe-borne water or schools for their increasing number of children.
They said the Nigerian Navy personnel occasionally visited the communities, which are about one hour and 25 minutes from their base in Calabar in speed boat.
At mercy of militants?
Communities on the fringes of Bakassi LGA also suffer attacks from pirates and militants as well as infiltration by both Ambazonia rebels and the la Republique du Cameroon forces.
According to sources in a separatist, armed movement, led by one Princewill Chimezie operating in the creeks and communities like Abana and Atabong, the communities have encountered attacks from Cameroon.
Chimezie also claimed to have usually responded by neutralizing the invading Cameroonians.
Daily Trust correspondent reports that in January alone, there have been reported encounters between militants and Cameroonian gendarmes in the Bakassi waters.
A militant group called Black Marine, an arm of the armed separatist movement, has had regular gun duels with the Cameroonians.
For instance, two weeks ago, five persons were reportedly killed following an exchange of gunfire between the Joint Border Patrol team and the Black Marine militants at the maritime border area of Bakassi Peninsula.
The group was reported to have stormed the border with two speed boats, allegedly killing three security personnel from both sides.
In another encounter, the group reportedly assassinated a commander of the Rapid d’intervention Battalions (BIR), Abana unit in Bakassi Peninsula.
A few days ago, the separatist group issued orders to their loyalists to eliminate all foreign flags from Bakassi as well as apprehend government agents who visit the region.
A rights group, Who is Who in Northern Cross River, had relocated some locals from Belegete who were displaced by the Ambazonian fighters to a temporary camp at the famous Obudu Mountain Resort.
Head of the delegation, Dr Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe, said they will help to reintegrate Belegete people into the mainstream community and give them a sense of belonging, now that the invaders have fled. He said the group would also attract the attention of the government to the plight of the people.
The outgoing commander of the NNS Victory, Vincent Gbaranwi, confirmed the security situation and said their attention had been focused on the settlements, which led to the recently conducted medical outreach and donation of food items to the people.
He said they regularly conducted security surveillance at the fishing ports, which are less than 30 minutes from Cameroon.
Encroachment, attacks worry Cross River govt
Worried by the report of how the Ambazonian rebels had occupied, and hoisted their flags in many borderline communities as well as the killing of Cross River indigenes, last week, Governor Bassey Edet Otu directed the state commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Helen Isamoh-Egodo, to visit the internally displaced people of Belegete community.
The governor said he needed an on-the-spot assessment of the territorial encroachment and attacks by Cameroonian Ambazonians in the community to enable him to initiate necessary actions.
During the visit, Dr Isamoh assured the people of the government’s preparedness to ameliorate their situation.
“The dastardly acts of violent attacks leading to the abduction of about 30 men and women, the killing of your clan head and other challenges will be sufficiently addressed by the state as well as the federal government,” she assured.
