Militants ‘invade’ Cross River government house

The Office of the Cross River state Governor was on Friday, allegedly taken over by 20 suspected Bakassi militants, who were protesting government’s abandonment of Bakassi returnees.

According to Premium Times, the militants arrived the governor’s office just after the Deputy Governor, Ivara Esu, arrived for work at about 10 am.

A source said the militant group held the Deputy Governor and the staff hostage for several hours after the invasion.

The militants were said to have told the people present that they were members of Bakassi Volunteer Force.

The group leader, called Capon, said they were ready to force government to pay their monthly amnesty which hasn’t been paid for months.

The Capon said the intention of the militants was to draw attention of the world to the plight of Bakassi indigenes who were displaced after the peninsula was handed over to Cameroon.

He reportedly said, “Our people are dying hopelessly on a daily basis due to minor ailments that could have easily been treated. We have made attempts to dialogue with the governor several times but he would not give us audience and that is why we are here to demand our little stipend.”

“We are from the Bakassi Volunteer Force, who have been neglected by government. Our people are dying yet the government is not doing anything. We decided to come out here today to let the entire world know what is happening so when we apply violence against the government nobody will blame us.”

“Before the Bakassi Peninsula was handed over to Cameron, both the state and the federal governments benefitted from the proceeds of oil and other business activities from that place. After our homes were handed over, we are treated like strangers in our own land.”

“If the federal government has rejected us, we won’t allow our own state too to reject us. We will shut down the governor’s office if nothing is done in the next few days.”

The invasion of the state house was confirmed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Ita.

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