There is confusion over the “arrest” in Nigeria of some leaders of the Anglophone Cameroonian rebels over their dreamed Ambazonia Republic.
While it was gathered that the rebels were arrested by security agencies of Nigeria, the rebels in a statement issued alleged that they were abducted by security personnel from Cameroon.
The rebels were arrested at Nera Hotel in Abuja on Friday.
Those affected are Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe, described as the interim president of the dreamed Ambazonia Republic; Dr. Nfor Ngala Nfor, chairman of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), Dr. Fidelis Nde Che; Dr. Henry Kimeng; Prof. Awasum; Dr. Cornelius Kwanga; Mr. Tassang Wilfred; Barrister Eyambe Elias; Dr. Ojong Okongho and Barrister Nalowa Bih.
The Cameroonians were said to be holding a meeting at about 7.30 pm when they were “arrested.”
A statement released by the rebels reads in part:
“The President and his team were in a High Command meeting in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria at the time the Cameroon Gunmen showed up at the Hotel.
“The meeting started at around 5pm, Nigerian time. At around 7:30PM, the gunmen came into the Hotel and abducted all of them including the President.
“The meeting was scheduled to discuss the Southern Cameroons Refugee crisis in Nigeria and to galvanize relief support for housing, medical and feeding in anticipation of the approaching rainy season.”
The group said it had contacted the Nigerian government over the issue and it was currently being probed.
In the statement, the rebels, identified as the Interim Government of the Southern Cameroons called on the people of Southern Cameroonians to remain calm as it continued to look into the matter.
The statement reads further: “Southern Cameroonians continue to be victims of extrajudicial killings orchestrated by President Paul Biya and his henchmen.
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“President Paul Biya and his henchmen must know that Southern Cameroonians will continue to assert their right to self-determination and will hold Paul Biya to account on all the killings of Southern Cameroonians.
“We call on Nigerian authorities to address this issue immediately and ensure that the Cameroun Government does not do any harm to them. We also call on the Nigerian authorities to investigate this threat against its sovereignty by La Republique du Cameroun.
“We call on the Nigerian government to guarantee the security of the more than 20,000 Southern Cameroonian refugees in various camps in Nigeria.”
It would be recalled that the Movement for the Independence of Southern Cameroonians is agitating for an independent Ambazonia State.
This is to enable them to be independent of the French-speaking Cameroon which they said had continued to dominate the country.
Those in the anglophone area of Cameroon complained of marginalization and in October 2017 they declared an autonomy over their region during the anniversary of their union with the French-speaking side.
The declaration led to the loss of lives as the central government of President Paul Biya effected a clampdown.
With many lives lost, many of the leaders of the movement had taken refuge in neighbouring countries, including Nigeria.
