22 Nigerians have been allegedly arrested by Cameroon Forces in Bakassi Peninsula as they combed the creeks and communities to flush out Biafra Separatist goups in the area.
However, the Biafra Nations League (BnL), led by Princewill Chimezie Richards in Bakassi Radio broadcast on Sunday November 5, said that those arrested are not part of Black Marine or Dragon Fighter Marine.
Top sources said the Cameroon Rapid d’intervention Battalions (BIR), has carried out mass arrests in Atabong East, Idabato subdivision of Bakassi Peninsula accusing residence of the town of aiding the dreaded pro Biafra militant groups.
It was also gathered that the BIR soldiers are preventing travellers from leaving Atabong in the ongoing exercise, banning commercial boats from loading passengers to their destinations.
An eye witness report said the Gendarmes were flogging those at the borders with the areas Nigeria controls asking everyone “are you Biafra” then they will flog irrespective of their answers.
The leader of the BnL through it’s Personal Assistant, Christian Effiong said that after a thorough investigation, it was confirmed that “over 22 people were carried away by the Cameroonian Forces.
Effiong who gathered information surrounding the mass arrest insisted that “arrested persons are not members of BnL and do not belong to the Black Marine and Dragon Fighter Marine”.
Speaking in a local Radio Bakassi in Efik dialect of the Efik people in parts of Cross River South Senatorial district of Cross River state in South South Nigeria on behalf of Richards on Sunday afternoon, Effiong warned that “the actions will definitely be met with counter offensive”.
The BnL has however called on the people to remain calm and allow the Gendarmes and BIR carry out their exercise and investigation, promising fire if they exceed two days.
Effiong disclosed that his boss has directed the BnL operational coordinator, Henry Edet to summon an emergency meeting for further action.
Meanwhile sources said hundreds of Nigerians residing in Atabong in Bakassi Peninsula are fleeing their homes as Cameroon deployed warplanes and warships to sack Biafra Separatist groups operating in the area.
Between October 30 and November 3, there have been clashes between the separatist groups and the Cameroonian Forces in the peninsula causing serious security issues in the Gulf of Guinea as some foreign vessels and oil companies cannot operate freely.
