Arms peddling: NIS nabs Cameroonian militant, 2 Nigerians at Mfum border post in Cross River
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have intercepted and taken into custody a Cameroonian, and two other Nigerian arms peddlers in Cross River State.
The arrested arms peddlers were taken in by officials of the NIS at Mfum, the border community along the Nigeria – Cameroon border.
The Comptroller in charge of Mfum Border Command, Mr. Ndubuisi Eneregbu gave the hint in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.
According to the Comptroller of the command, Mr. Eneregbu, three suspects, two Nigerians and one irregular Cameroonian migrant who confessed to be a member of the Ambazonia separatist group, were intercepted on a motorcycle with arms and live ammunitions.
The suspected peddlers are; two Nigerians; Chior Emmanuel, 30, Shima Alfred, 23, and one Nkwaayuk Boris, 23, a Cameroonian.
According to the Controller, “The suspects were found with among other things, a small bag containing incriminating items such as One Barrater pistol, one locally-made pistol, three live ammunition, charms and one TECNO BC3 Android phone.
“According to them, they were four and that the fourth person, currently at large, left them with the bag containing the incriminating items. Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects, the Cameroonian, is a member of the Ambazonia separatist group in the Republic of Cameroon.
“The three suspects along with the incriminating items have been handed over to the Divisional Police Officer Etung Division, Etung Local Government Area for further investigation,” he indicated.
On efforts made since assumption of office to curtail illegal activities within border communities, the Comptroller stated that the command initiated regular stakeholder meetings with traditional rulers of all border communities under his command to enhance synergy and enshrine trust.
He indicated that despite certain logistic challenges, the officers and men were prepared to apprehend anyone found perpetrating illegalities and sabotaging the economy of the country.
Mfum is a commercial border town in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, where Nigerians and others engaged in international trade transit through.
Commodities traded at Mfum range from food items, petroleum products and more across the lines into the Republic of Cameroon.
The federal government in partnership with the Cameroonian authorities recently completed a multi-million dollar bridge at Mfum to boost trade between both countries.
