Bakassi fishermen, IDP’s protest intimidation, harassment by soldiers
From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar
Hundreds of fishermen and IDP’s in Bakassi have protested the intimidation band harassment by soldiers.
They called on the United Nations and the government to come to their aid and save them from the action of the soldiers who are attached to Ikang.
The protesters, in their hundreds, commenced their protest from Ikot Effiom Obutong re-settlement camp and ended at Ikang Bakassi fishing port.
They accused the soldiers of extortion, uneccesary intimidation and harrassment of internally displaced persons who were predominantly fishermen.
Other allegations against the soldiers include flogging fishermen who use petroleum products to power their fishing boats.
Spokesman of the protesters and General Secretary, Internally Displaced Persons IDPs Bakassi re-settlement camp, Mr. Linus Asuquo Essien said his people are going through hardship.
“Our children can no longer go to school. On daily basis our community residents who are predominantly fishmen have at regular intervals been arrested and locked up in the Cameroon republic prisons.
“Unfortunately non of our leaders in the house of parliament or in high place of authority had bothered to wade into the matter.
“We now go through hunger and starvation in the IDP camp due to our constant stay at home.
“Our major occupation is fishing, unfortunately,we have been barred by the soldiers from going to fish.
“We have over hundred fishermen who had been arrested by the cameroon gerdams and locked up in their prisons just because they were engaged in fishing.
“This is why are calling on the federal government, United Nations to come to our aide before we perish here.
“Cameroonians said we are strangers, In Nigeria our soldiers accused us of engaging in bunkering. Where do we go from here”, he pleaded.
Responding, Army Public Relations Officer Capt. Dorcas Aluko stated that she was attending a course outside the state and can comment on the issue at a moment.
