Militants take over Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas in Cross River State

ARMED militias have taken control of two local government areas in Cross River State and displaced virtually every civil authority in the area as the ongoing unrest in the Niger Delta continues to take a turn for the worse.

 

Over recent months, militancy has returned to the Niger Delta with several groups blowing up oil installations and the Niger Delta Avengers declaring war on the government. This militancy, which had hitherto been confined to Delta, Rivers and Bayesla states has now spread to Cross River State as a new group called the Bakassi Strike Force, has been formed.

 

Operating in the area for some time, the Bakassi Strike Force has now seized control of Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas, displacing both civil and traditional authorities in the councils. As a result, the elected chairmen of the two local governments have fled the area, while the councillors hold their legislative sittings in Calabar.

 

In addition, the secretariats of both local councils have also been deserted by civil servants for fear of being kidnapped or attacked by the militants. Cross River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the activities of Operation Delta Safe, a security taskforce protecting oil installations in the Niger Delta, to the state.

 

Governor Ayade said his state should not to be isolated in the battle to keep the Niger Delta safe. He also promised to increase the firepower of the state’s security taskforce known as Operation Skolombo.

 

Militancy has gripped Cross River State for the past few months and militants are being blamed for an increasing wave of kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities, especially, in Calabar, the state capital. Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas, which share a maritime boundary with Cameroon, recently became lawless and anarchic as the militants collected rents and levies from people doing business which they termed protection money.

 

One local source said: “There is total anarchy there now and people are actually running to Cameroon now for help. First of all, the local government chairmen in both places have not gone to office over the past one and a half years.

 

"They have written, complained, begged, and appealed, to no avail. The legislatures in those places don’t meet at the local government headquarters as they hold their meetings in Calabar so as to fulfil the statutory requirements that they hold a certain number of meetings in a session."

 

He added that the traditional institutions have tried to fight but they can no longer sustain the battle as they do not have guns or money. Apparently, the militants have set up a parallel government and are the ones that resolve land disputes and family feuds and if husband and wife quarrel they go to militants.