The Honourable Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Helen Isamoh-Egodo has visited the internally displaced people of Belegete community in Obanliku LGA on Sunday, January 7th.
The visit was made at the behest of the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu who needed an on the spot assessment of the territorial encroachment and attacks by Cameroonian Ambazonians in the community.
Dr Isamoh who arrived to an enthusiastic welcome by members of the displaced community reassured them of government preparedness to ameliorate their situation.
"The dastard acts of violent attacks leading to the abduction of about 30 men and women, the killing of your Clan Head and other challenges will be sufficiently addressed by His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Otu's administration", she said.
According to the displaced people, the invasion occurred about 4am on December 5th 2023 when they were awakened by the desperate screams of men, women, and children facing well armed men on a mission to kill, pillage, and abduct members of the community. They said that several reports were made to security officials who sent personnel to the community. The gangs later planted a flag in Belegete claiming it is their territory.
The displaced women narrated sordid tales of the abuses they suffered and lamented that they lack educational facilities for their children to begin school this academic session.
They attributed the invasion to the fact that because of a historically inaccessible terrain, it is easier for Cameroonians to cross into their territory than it is for state security personnel or Obanliku citizens to gain access to Belegete. They feared that they would eventually suffer the fate of Bakassi communities that have been ceded to Cameroon if nothing is done to stem the ongoing invasion.
Their leaders called for the government to immediately station a permanent security base in the area to protect the citizens and forestall further invasion.
They told the Honourable Commissioner that their immediate needs at their temporary location at the Obudu Cattle Ranch was a functional health service facility; reiterating that they need food, clothing, mattresses, cooking ware, toilet facilities and toiletries, and a functioning borehole.
Commissioner Isamoh-Egodo promised that the government of Senator Otu is poised to ameliorate the difficult condition they have experienced. She equally reassured the people that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs would, as a matter of urgency, help provide succor by making available the things the people need.
© CRS Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs
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