The appeal is contained in a letter obtained from a community member, Elder Kechie John E. It was addressed to the Head of the Local Government Administration of Obanliku council area.
Balegete, a community in the Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State, which has been repeatedly attacked by the Ambazonian militants from the Republic of Cameroon, has begged the government for adequate security, food items and social amenities.
The appeal is contained in a letter obtained by SaharaReporters from a community member, Elder Kechie John E. It was addressed to the Head of the Local Government Administration of Obanliku council area.
According to the letter, the community’s residents desperately need “food items, cooking utensils, sleeping mats and mattresses, communication networks, health care, security and provision of access roads”.
SaharaReporters earlier reported how Ambazonian militants on December 5, 2023, invaded Balegete with weapons and wounded a lot of residents. The invasion led to an intervention by the Nigerian Army and police who came to the rescue of the residents of the community and killed one of the militants.
It was learnt that soon after the security personnel left the community, the Ambazonian militants attacked the community again to avenge the death of one of them.
The Ambazonian militants reportedly kidnapped the traditional head of the community and some youths during the retaliatory attack and forced them to bury the late militant. The militants also reportedly shot dead the traditional leader and displaced other residents of the community.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently deploy military forces to Okwa community, another Nigerian community attacked and invaded by Ambazonian militants.
The legislators also encouraged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to launch diplomatic efforts to address the situation and seek a peaceful resolution to the region’s security concerns.
As a result, the Committees on Defence, Foreign Affairs, Security, and Intelligence were tasked with overseeing and ensuring the proper implementation of the measures, while keeping a close eye on the safety of the Okwa community and the national interest at large.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent importance titled, “Threat of invasion of Okwa community, Boki Local Government Area by Cameroon,” sponsored by the member representing Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency, Cross River State, Mr Victor Abang.
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