Already, the community leaders alleged that Cameroonian authorities have taken over their ancestral
lands.The affected communities are part of Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, in southern
Nigeria.
During a meeting with the village head of Abana, Nyong Etim Efa, a fact-finding team from the National Boundary Commission, led by Moses Onyoh, was told that the Government of the Republic of Cameroon had imposed taxes on Nigerians living in the 16 affected communities.
Mr. Efa said though he was appointed a village head by the Akwa Ibom State Government, he had also been given certificate as a village head by Republic of Cameroon.“The Cameroon Gendarmes have placed taxes on all the communities. In Abana, we are demanded to pay N500, 000 per month,” the village head said.
“The last time they came to collect the money and found out that I didn’t convene a meeting to raise the tax, they raped my wife, beat me up and later detained me in their cell,” he said.
“For our youths who resisted them, they cut their fishing nets into pieces and seize their outboard engines.
“We are weakened by repeated molestation from Cameroon Gendarmes. We are seriously considering taking up citizenship in Cameroon, since Nigerian Government cannot protect us,” Mr. Efa said.
Another resident of the island community invaded, Etim Eyo, said they were left with no source of livelihoods.
“On Saturday February 27, we experienced the worst onslaught on our people. The gendarmes raided our homes, raped our wives, seized 10 outboard engines, eight bags of crayfish and money,” Mr. Eyo lamented.
“After the incident, it has been difficult to eke a living. We don’t have money to buy new outboard engines and fishing nets.
”While decrying the failure of the government to correct the nation’s boundaries 13 years after the International Court of Justice ruling, the people vowed to launch a counter offensive anytime they were attacked by Cameroonian soldiers.
Source: PREMIUM TIMES.
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