THEY began with a cry for help from their country. They wanted the
Federal Government to take them back to their homeland in Bakassi. It is
now about a decade since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled
that the oil-rich Bakassi did not belong to Nigeria but Cameroun.
But
for almost a decade, their hope has remained forlorn. So yesterday, the
indigenes of Bakassi finally took their destiny in their own hands.
They
declared themselves independent of Nigeria. They went further.
They hoisted their official flag and launched a radio station.
The
Bakassi Self-Determination Front (BSDF) is the rallying point for all
this. It hoisted a blue, white and red flag with 11 stars on the blue
colour.
This development is coming a week after the Ogoni declared their independence on August 2, 2012.
The
Bakassi’s radio station started transmission on August 6 at noon and
operates on 4.2MHz and 5.2MHz band. The station, otherwise known as
“Dayspring”, is part of efforts by the group to ensure the liberation of
Bakassi people as well as disseminate information on developments.
Already,
the Camerounian soldiers have piled up arms in the peninsula ready for
any action as the Bakassi group had issued a two-week ultimatum to its
people still living within the ceded territory to vacate or be crushed
in a cross-fire.
In his maiden broadcast, the Commander-General of
the BSDF, Ekpe Ekpenyong Oku, said: “Please for the umpteenth time, we
plead with our people to leave Abana now. The fight is going to be
thickest and fiercest now that our brothers from the northern and
eastern flanks have fully arrived. Bakassi we hail thee.”
Oku
revealed that arrangements had been concluded with some international
liberation groups to assist the Bakassi natives in the battle ahead.
The
Bakassi militant leader did not disclose details of the international
liberation group but noted: “Ours will be a classical story of the
elephant and the ant. The elephant will soon be driven frantic with ants
all over its enormous bulk. The elephant will be so harassed and will
find no respite and will dash itself against a tree trunk.
“Throughout
history, injured people have had to resort to arms in their
self-defence where peaceful negotiations fail. Bakassi people are no
exception. Our right to self-determination is imminent; some will die,
but some will live to reap from our labour.”
The BSDF warned all
travellers on the sea to stay away as “August 11 and 12, 2012 this week
will be bloody and is not good to travel on the sea.
“No sea
movement so that you don’t have cause to regret. There shall be no
movement of boats from Ikang or Marina beach to Cameroun on these two
days. Be warned.
“We call on men of goodwill, individuals, human
rights organisations and the indigenous people of Bakassi to join hands
in resisting and fighting the present international conspiracy.”
In
the wake of the Green Tree Agreement, (GTA) in 2006, a group under the
name ‘Bakassi Freedom Fighters’ had threatened to seek independence if
Nigeria renounced sovereignty.
The group even went ahead to hoist
the then Bakassi flag of the rising sun in Abana, the headquarters of
Bakassi now in Cameroun.
But a few days to handing over Bakassi to
Cameroun at the Government House in Calabar, Cross River State, the
leader of the militant group, Tony Ene, died in a mysterious road
accident along Calabar-Itu highway.
The federal and state governments were strongly fingered in the death of Ene.
Now,
tension is high in the peninsula as some Nigerians have started fleeing
the area for safety as it is alleged that the village head of Ekoi,
near Abana, Chief Okon Effiong Esu, is missing and there is the fear
that he might have been killed by Camerounian soldiers.
-Guardian
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...So the question is - why is the FG arresting and Intimidating non-violent Biafrans...?
Share your thoughts....thanks!
Mmhhh!!! 2015 is rest-assured for all. Can't wait.
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