President Umaru Yar’Adua on Friday insisted that Bakassi Peninsular would be handed over on August 14, 2008 in line with the Green Tree Agreement signed between the two countries.
Yar’Adua spoke just as hostilities between militants and Cameroonian gendarmeries escalated at the oil rich peninsular leading to several deaths.
The agreement, signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was sequel to Nigeria’s loss of the case instituted at the International Court of Justice, to determine the real owner of the disputed land occupied for ages by Nigerians.
Yar’Adua spoke at the Presidential Villa while receiving the letter of credence from the new Camerounian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Salaheddine Abbas, stressing that Nigeria was ready and fully committed to a successful handover of Bakassi to Cameroun next month.
According to him, "we must ensure that the August 14 handover goes ahead, in accordance with the Green Tree Agreement, and then we shall continue to work together to further strengthen our existing very cordial and brotherly relations," he said.
Recalling the long history of cordial and mutually beneficial relationship between Nigeria and Cameroun, Yar’Adua said consultations would continue prior to August 14, to ensure a smooth transition in the area for the benefit of all concerned.
Abbas said that Cameroun welcomed the cooperation from Nigeria, and was fully committed to the successful implementation of the Green Tree Agreement.
He said his posting to Nigeria was a return home, because he hails from the Adamawa part of Cameroun.
Other envoys who presented their letters to Yar’Adua were Ms. Iman Younes of Lebanon, Ahmedou Ould Mohammed Mahmould of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and Qubi Bouchraya Bachir of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.
The President challenged them to take necessary steps to strengthen bilateral relations between their countries and Nigeria during their tenures while assuring them of the government’s support and cooperation to enable them achieve this.
Tempers, however, flared at the Peninsula with reports that Niger Delta militants engaged Camerounian gendarmeries in bloody fire fight resulting in some causalities on both the sides.
Some of those fleeing the peninsular told Saturday independent that at least 20 fighters have died with both the gendarmes and militants recording casualties.
The fighting has also resulted in renewed refugee crisis as more people who are fleeing the fighting in the territory have continued to trickle into Ikang in Akpabuyo Local Government area of Cross River State where thousands of Nigerians ran to when there was a similar clash some weeks ago.
One of the escapees from the Amoto area, Edet Okon told Saturday Independent that only four persons are left in the place which originally had at least five thousand residents.
Authorities in Cross River refused to comment on the development as those approached by our correspondent said they do not have information about what is happening.
Executive Secretary of the State Emergency relief agency (SEMA), Mr. Vincent Aqua, however, said that refugees from Bakassi Peninsula have been entering the refugee camps in Ikang in trickles in the last few days.
Agency report has it that a group which claims to be the Niger Delta Defence and Security Council (NDDSC) is behind the attack on the gendarmes.
The group’s spokesman Ebi Dari said: "It is true our men came under intense gunfire from the Cameroon military, but only four of them were killed and two taken hostage. They also seized one of our speed boats and the arms that were inside," he told Reuters News Agency.