Tom Moses
2 November 2009
Calabar — Over 400 Nigerians, who were in the ceded Bakassi Peninsula have returned to Nigeria with tales of agony as a result of inhuman treatment meted out to them by the Cameroonian gendarmes.
Narrating their ordeals, the displaced persons,mostly fishermen, camped at Ikang, said they had been undergoing torture in the hands of the gendarmes, since the ceding of the area.
They said that the recent onslaught on Nigerians, which they alleged had caused the death of many Nigerians some unaccounted for warranted their running away from the area.
Displaying wounds sustained as a result of the said torture, the victims said clubs, belts and knives were used in beating them especially when they refused to be extorted by the gendarmes.
Aside the extortion, they lamented that their fishing boats and nets were often destroyed without any provocation.
Commenting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr. Bassey Okim described the situation as unfortunate and expressed surprise that Nigerians living in Cameroon were subjected to inhuman treatment, even when they had tried to abide by the laws of the land.
Addressing the victims at Ikang, the Director General, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Vincent Aquah assured them of adequate attention while in camp.
He said that the machinery of the agency was already in motion to ensure accommodation, feeding and other necessary comfort for the victims.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Mr. Casmir Obok was also on the entourage alongside military and police personnel as well as officials of Bakassi Local Government Area (LGA).
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