Shock as Cameroon Takes Over 16 Akwa Ibom Communities in Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

Cameroon has taken over 16 mangrove island villages of Effiat clan in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, all in Nigeria.

 

Mbo mangrove island is a fishing settlement which serves as the official borderline between Nigeria and Cameroon.

 

The shocking revelation was made by a member representing Mbo State Constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Samuel Ufuo. He says the matter needs urgent intervention from the government before his people are forced into another country.

 

The island is rich with abundant mineral resources. In fact, it boasts of oil wells and many gas reserves.

 

The Punch reports that Ufuo said the latest attack by Cameroon is a threat to Nigeria's sovereignty and his people.

 

He further revealed that Cameroon's security agencies had been terrorizing Nigerians in the areas carrying out economic activities on the border communities.

 

He said, “Cameroon has annexed 16 villages in Effiat clan, Mbo Local Government Area, which were not part of the peninsula under dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon.

“Mbo mangrove island is currently under the administrative control of Cameroon. This island is blessed with resources such as minerals and copious fishing routes. The island has approximately 350 oil wells. The strategic economic importance of this region brought the envy by our Cameroon brothers.

“It is pathetic to note that Akwa Ibom people who are living in their villages established when there was no Nigeria or Cameroon as countries are being terrorized, dehumanised, deprived of their rights and privileges and maltreated by Cameroonian security agencies.”

 

Quoting the March 11, 1913 Anglo-German treaties as reaffirmed by the ICJ (The International Court of Justice) on October 10, 2002, Ufuo said Mbo mangrove island is an integral part of Nigeria. He wondered why Cameroon would dare attack Nigerians and try to force them to become their citizens.

 

The lawmaker said, “Cameroon in an earlier attempt to take over another part of Nigeria which was not part of the peninsula ceded to it in 2002 removed pillar 113A and started encroaching on our land until Nigerian communities occupying the territory raised the alarm.”

 

He called on the Federal Government to immediately save his people and uphold its sovereignty over the island before Cameroon harm his people.