A group of Niger Delta militants in Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State, operating under the aegis of Bakassi Strike Force (BSF), numbering over 600 has asked the Federal Government to recover the ceded Bakassi Peninsular from Cameroon, lamenting that aside not being carried along before, during and after the ceding process, the indigenes of Bakassi have been neglected by the Federal Government and other local and international stakeholders.
The BSF also urged the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, to lay down their arms in the interest of the people of the area, calling on it to embrace dialogue rather than adopting violence and vandalising oil installations.
The militants had a one-hour boat display with heavy weapons around Esighi axis of Bakassi, before proceeding to Esuk Mba Creek, Akpabuyo Local Government of Cross River State, where they brandished sophisticated arms and ammunition to buttress the point that though they have all the weaponry to go to war, they have rather chosen peace as the ultimate option even as they showcased weapons such as sophisticated gun boats, Browning machine gun, rocket launchers, among others.
Led by ‘General’ Simply Benjamin alias Humble Lion, the BSF, also known as Esighi group, said they were prepared to embrace the amnesty programme of the Federal Government, and support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed, stating that the people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states have been side-lined by the Federal Government in the amnesty programme.
Simply, who read from a prepared speech, said, “The Bakassi Strike Force is an indigenous group made up of youths from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, totalling 642 foot soldiers”.
“You will agree with me that Akwa Ibom and Cross River states are part of the Niger Delta region, yet we have been completely side-lined from the amnesty scheme and other empowerment programmes for the youth of the area.”
“Yet it will interest you to note that it is in Obubra, Cross River State that the team of Niger Delta militants was hosted, when states such as Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Edo and Ondo refused to host the rehabilitation camp for the militants.”
“Again, the Federal Government took away our oil rich Bakassi from us and handed over to Cameroon. We as indigenes and habitants were not consulted before this was done, neither were there any constitutional resettlement process initiated for the displaced persons.”
“To make matters worse, after taking over our land, the Cameroonian forces began to harass and molest our people. They even levied us with heavy taxes which became entirely unbearable.”
“Therefore, when it became obvious after several petitions that the federal and state governments were not ready to protect us and even the United Nations, we invited our Ijaw brothers who were already in the arms struggle to resist the Cameroonian operatives, but unfortunately, they embraced Federal Government amnesty programme when it was offered and abandoned us.”
“As indigenous youths, we have no other option than rise to defend and defend ourselves from the operations and injustice from the Cameroonian forces. The Federal Government should reclaim Bakassi from Cameroon.”
