Bakassi Community Seeks
Resettlement, Compensation
Vin Oliji, Calabar
The
people of the Bakassi community in Cross River
state, Southern Nigeria, who were displaced after a
treaty ceded the area to Cameroon, have renewed
their appeal to the Nigerian government and the
international community for resettlement and
compensation.
Place of choice
In an interview with Voice of Nigeria correspondent
in Calabar, the Chairman of the Bakassi General
Assembly, Mr. Bassey Edit lamented the sufferings
and deaths of the people after their displacement.
He restated earlier requests for proper care,
compensation and relocation to Virgin Land at the
Day spring and Qua Islands at the shore of the
Bakassi.
He said that the people, who were mostly fishermen,
petty traders and artisan, would fare better in
these riverine areas.
Resettlement plan
It would be recalled that the state government had
in February, provided a set of housing units to the
displaced people as part of the resettlement
programme.
The State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke said during
the handing over that a board of trustees would be
constituted to raise funds both within and outside
Nigeria for the comprehensive implementation of the
resettlement.
It is also to be recalled that on the 10th of
October, 2002 former Nigerian President, Olusegun
Obasanjo and Paul Biya of Cameroon signed the Green
Tree agreement ceding Bakassi to the republic of
Cameroon in compliance with a ruling by the
International Court of Justice.
Qasim/Yinka