Bakassi Peninsula

By Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Federal Government friday said it would not renege on agreements and conventions regarding the Bakassi Peninsula and urged the people of the Bakassi not to engage in unconstitutional acts that can threaten the peace that was achieved between Nigeria and Cameroon through the judgement of the International Court of Justice in October 2002.

About two week ago, a militant group in the peninsula which called itself “Bakassi Self Determination Front”  had hoisted a flag and declared the region to be an independent state, it also issued a statement warning ‘foreigners’ living in the area to vacate the region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued in Abuja friday urged all those who feel aggrieved and with legitimate claims to use legal channels to make their grievances public.

In the statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr. Ogbole Ode, the ministry reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to engage Cameroonian authorities to ensure that the rights of the people living in the ceded region are respected.

The ministry added that the Federal Government would not renege on the agreement already made nor review it as is being canvassed by the militant group.

“As a responsible, peace loving and law abiding nation, Nigeria is guided by the provisions of its constitution which enjoins the country to respect international law and treaty obligations and to settle international disputes by negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication,” it read.

It should be recalled that Nigeria pulled out its troops from the Bakassi Peninsula following the Green Tree Agreement achieved after the intervention of the United Nations in 2006. The GTA committed the two countries to implement the 2002 decision of the ICJ by recognizing the land and maritime boundaries between them.