Niger Delta militants armed to the teeth have taken control of two
local government areas in Cross River State and displaced virtually
every civil authority in the area.
According to ThisDay, the group alleged to be members of Bakassi
Strike Force, had been operating in the area for some time. But they
recently seized control of Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas,
displacing both civil and traditional authorities in the councils.
This has forced the elected chairmen of the two local governments
to flee for their lives as many others in the community had since fled
for many months now while the councillors hold their legislative
sittings in Calabar. The secretariats of both local councils have also
been deserted by civil servants for fear of being kidnapped or attacked
by the militants.
As a result, the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has appealed
to President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the activities of “Operation
Delta Safe”, a security taskforce protecting oil installations in the
Niger Delta, to Cross River State. Ayade said his state should not to be
isolated in the battle to keep the Niger Delta safe. He also promised
to increase the firepower of the state’s security taskforce, “Operation
Skolombo.”
Militancy has gripped Cross River State for the past few months.
And militants are being blamed for an increasing wave of kidnapping,
armed robbery, and other criminal activities, especially, in Calabar,
the state capital.
But Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas, which share
maritime boundary with Cameroon, recently became a lawless, anarchic
zone in which militants rule. It was discovered that the militants
collected rents and levies from people doing business in the council
areas, which they termed “protection money”, a situation that has made
many people to flee.
The militants are said to have also rendered the state judicial
organs and the traditional institutions in Akpabuyo and Bakassi local
governments impotent, as the militias now handle matters that should
otherwise be handled by the conventional courts, village heads, clan
chiefs, and paramount rulers.
Speaking on the matter, Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area,
Mrs. Edisua Usang Iso, admitted that militants were operating in her
council area. She, however, denied that the activities of the militants
were affecting the administration of the council. Iso said, though, the
council had lost substantial revenue to their activities, the federal
government should grant amnesty to them and incorporate them into the
federal government’s amnesty programme for Niger Delta militants.
However, Governor Ayade confirmed that the militants have taken
full occupation of some of the local governments and vowed that the
militants will be dislodged from the area.
The governor said, “The three kingpins, we have identified
their homes, we have the coordinates of their armoury, we have a clear
picture of their modus operandi and we are working on a massive attack. I
speak as the United States would do. They let you know that they are
coming for you and they will come after you.
“We are coming after them. We know all the militants who are
now parading and taking full occupation of Bakassi. We would free the
people of Bakassi. The people of Bakassi have seen enough pain. Lands
taken, oil wells taken, reduced to want in spirit, body and economy, we
cannot afford also to create a perilous nightmare for the same people.”
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