Nigerians in Bakassi peninsula have protested the abduction of four of their community leaders by the Cameroonian Gendarmes.
They include Bassey Ikoedem Utong, Ndung Ekpenyong Ndung, Joseph Ekpenyong Isang and Asukwo Isuo Atteh
In a protest letter to the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, the National and International Coordinator of Bakassi Returnees and Displaced Nigerian Citizens, Prince Aston Joseph Inyang, alleged that some leaders had been taken to an unknown destination.
According to the protest letter obtained on Monday, the abduction of the four leaders was the heights of the wanton abuse of their human rights and unnecessary extortion by the Cameroonian authorities.
“They were arrested over 12 days ago, and till date, nobody knows their whereabouts and their crayfish, fish and other sea foods were forcefully seized from them at Abunja area of Cameroon,” the statement said.
Inyang called on Nigerian government, Akwa Ibom State government and other relevant authorities to intervene with a view to rescuing the seized community leaders alive.
The coordinator alleged that they were mandated by the Divisional Officer (DO) in-charge of Idabatu station to pay N594,000. 00 for their release.
He lamented further that some natural boundaries had been falsified and Nigerian territories including Ataobong community, had been renamed to bear Cameroonian names, while local Nigerian chiefs were replaced by Cameroonians.
He said the forceful eviction of Nigerians from their areas, extortion of monies in form of taxes and other inhuman treatments, had compelled them to report the matter to the United Nations (UN) and the Nigerian government but nothing was done.
“Nigerians from Bakassi peninsula had cried out about one month ago over forceful eviction by the Cameroonian authorities for unwarranted taxation and levies; we are yet to see any action from government.
“As a people with large families, they were gathered at Ikang, in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, as well as Esuk Enwang in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State without any emergency attention given to us.” he lamented.
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