The Ambazonia Boys, a group of separatists from southwest Cameroon, invaded the Belegete hamlet in Obanliku Local Government Area, and Cross River State Deputy Governor Peter Odey is unhappy about it.
Francis Okweshi, the clan chief, was reportedly among the community elders kidnapped and murdered by them.
On December 5, 2023, militants from Cameroon stormed the Cross River village, kidnapping more than 30 indigenous people and leaving many more injured or dead.
They were still inhabiting the village as of yesterday, according to DAILY POST’s reporting. The community is located near to the famous Obudu Mountain resort.
When the Integrated Border Governance and Inter-Ministerial Committee, appointed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, visited the deputy governor’s office yesterday to assess the difficulties encountered by boundary settlements, the governor voiced his worry.
He brought up the fact that the state has been dealing with a huge number of Cameroonian refugees since the armed rebellion began in 2017, which is a big problem.
The biggest concentration of Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria, at 52,000, are currently residing in the state, which he noted boasts four international borders.
While acknowledging that certain border conflicts may have their roots in an identity crisis, Odey urged the federal government to make sure that all Nigerians, even those living along the border, felt the effects of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mrs. Comfort Kabirwa, team lead for the Federal Ministry of the Interior, had previously stated that one goal of their visit was to assess the situation and provide recommendations for improvement.
According to what Kabirwa said, the Minister of Interior is hoping for a stronger government presence in border areas.
She explained that an inter-ministerial committee was necessary because communities were still bearing the brunt of these problems.
A team member, Comptroller S. A. Agba, stated that the visit will gather data that could pave the way for different security services to set up outposts in order to control immigration and migration, thereby reducing the flow of foreigners.
Mismob Media