Arrest Of Nigerians: Displayed Bakassi Returnees Stage Protest, Seek NHRC, FG Intervention

Abasiofiok Inyang

Bakassi Returnees and Displaced Nigerian Citizens has called on the Federal and Akwa Ibom State government as well as National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to quickly intervene and ensure that 4 Nigerian citizens arrested and detained in illegal Cameroon Prison on the order of Divisional Officer (DO) and Deputy Major of Idabatu are released without further delay.

The four persons, Bassey Ikoedem Utong, Ndung Ekpenyong Ndung, joseph Ekpenyong Isang and Asuquo Isilo Attah, were early this month over flimsy allegation of failure to pay N27,000 tax to the Cameroon government.

The Sensor learnt that despite the fact that wives of the arrested Nigerian citizens sold out properties to pay the forcefully imposed tax, the victims are still held by the Cameroon government.

Making call for the release of the four Nigerians who are all citizens of the State, during a peaceful protest last weekend to the State Office of NHRC, Uyo, the National Cordinator, Association of Bakassi Returnees and displaced Nigerians citizens, Prince Aston-Joseph Inyang said that the were about of the innocent fishermen are not known till date.

According to him, “the arrested persons, till date, their wereabout is not known. Following their arrest, the Divisional Officer (D.O.) of Idabatu requested them to pay N27,000 each as part of their tax. Their wives sold out properties and pay the money. The DO and Deputy Major further requested people in the community to immediately begin payment of their taxes which about 18 people including the four arrested persons paid. A total of N594,000 with crayfish and fish were forcefully colledted from the Nigerian community at Abuja as requested for the release of the four persons, still they are yet to be released”.

Prince Inyang noted that aside the four arrested persons, many Nigerians living in Bakassi Zone B have been subjected to all forms of torture, exploitation, rape and inhuman treatment.

This, he said is against the agreement reached between United Nations, Nigeria and Cameroon.

He said, “Nigerians living in Bakassi Peninsular had recently raised an alarm over forced eviction by Cameroon authority for illegal tax and other levies.

He said if the Federal and Akwa Ibom State Government fail to take action to secure the release of the arrested persons as well as ensure that the Cameroon authority stop the persecution they may be forced to defend themselves.

Responding, the State Cordinator of National Human Rights Commission, Tony Iji, thanked them for conducting themselves peacefully during the protest. While sympathizing with the victims of the International Court of Justice, ICJ judgment that ceded Bakassi to Cameroon, Iji promised to liase with National and State Emergency Management Agency to see that the victims are properly settled.

He, however, charged the displaced persons to obey the laws of Cameroon government as long as they are living in the Peninsular. This he noted will enable NHRC property fight for their right.

Among those that witness the peaceful protest was the State Cordinator of Bakassi Returnees and Displaced Nigerian Citizens, Mr. Ikpoto Ikpoto, children and women.

Culled from The Sensor Newspaper