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Nigeria: Babies Boom in Bakassi! Returnees Groan As Four Clans Disappear
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Vanguard (Lagos)
INTERVIEW
19 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
George Onah
ON June 10, 2008, about 3,266 Nigerians left the Bakassi Peninsula in a hurry and arrived Ikang, Cross River State, seeking refuge from their tormentors in that handed-over land.
But that is not the issue here now; the issue is that between June 10 and July 18, no fewer than 22 children have been born in the camp.
In fact, twin-male children were born last Friday. The matter does not seem to be over because Sunday Vanguard saw a cluster of pregnant women milling around the Government Primary School, Ikang Central, Bakassi Council, where they are presently settled. There appears to be baby boom in the Bakassi refugee camp.
Certainly, this people did not get pregnant within one month, they would have been ferried with their pregnancies from their old settlements, only to harvest the children on arrival. It was gathered that before they eventually left Bakassi for Ikang, the Cameroonian soldiers had confined the Nigerians to their homes.
They were not allowed to fish, farm or even go out to trade. Also, they were not given opportunity to recreate by exercising outdoors. So, naturally, the women became recreational facilities for the men, hence the high birth rate and pregnancy of the Bakassi returnees.
Living Condition
Sunday Vanguard spoke with the headmaster of the school of the displaced people, Mr. Emeng Ogor.
What has been the situation here since the people arrived?
It's been over a month now when our people arrived here (Ikang) because of the problem over there (Bakassi). For the time being, Cross River State has really proved that they are hospitable people. In terms of feeding the teeming population, the government has been superlative in its efforts in this direction.
This is a population of over 3,266 people and they are being fed three times a day, certainly it is not an easy task. On the education of the children, we had over 755 school age children, they were quickly integrated into the school system. It is the teachers'nationwide strike that caused them to be playing about, you would have seen them in the classrooms learning.
The state government equally came to our aid and gave us textual materials, which has encouraged the parents and the less privileged amongst the people. As for water, it has been constant because a borehole has been sunk and there is equally a generating plant installed to provide electricity throughout the night.
A health centre, in fact a mini-hospital, has been set up to provide immediate medical aid to anyone who falls ill. The hospital is equipped with two doctors and four nurses. Within the time which they arrived, there have been 21 deliveries with one of the women being delivered of twin children".
Assistance: Ogor asked for aid from people "who have human sympathy to come and complement government's immense efforts".
He continued: "When you have a large family, you encounter many problems, so government needs help. It is worthy of note that the government also provided clothing for the people and shoes. We are equally aware that the government is preparing a more standard area where the people would be quartered when it is completed.
Also, I want to inform you that many of our people are still coming from Bakassi. Even recently, a few of them trickled into the camp and were adequately documented and taken in".
Are all these refugees Bakassi indigenes or from different parts of Nigeria who were settled in that area?
They are from different parts of Nigeria, about five states of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
In other words, they are from the South-South
Yes.
You have asked for aid from some agencies, what exactly do you want?
Very soon, school would resume. If you move around the school compound now, you would see that the dual-desk we use for the pupils are all broken, because of where to sleep.
A good number of them are broken and badly damaged now; even the tables and floor need refurbishing. So, essentially, one is saying that there is the need to get the classes in order pending resumption and that will help the children and us. Again, some of the children here are due for examination and their parents do not have anything doing now.
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We need to register these children for their primary six examination that would come up any time from now. In addition, we need structures to accommodate the population of the school that has shot up because of the influx. There are over 3,000 pupils now and the classrooms are very few. Before now, we were about 2,300 plus the 700 that came, the number has gone up and we are anticipating that more are on the way coming from Bakassi. You can imagine what it would look like if more children join us.
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