Five Nigerian pastors are detained in Cameroon following allegations of involvement in a local politician’s abduction.
Cameroonian authorities have arrested and detained five Nigerian pastors, along with other residents from the Idabato II community in Cameroon, previously known as the Bakassi Peninsula.
Their detention occurred after armed men kidnapped the community’s Divisional Officer, Ewane Roland, in early October.
Eniola Alabo, previously the chairman of the Yoruba community in the now-defunct Bakassi Peninsula, revealed this information to Saturday PUNCH during an interview conducted on Tuesday.
Local media reported that on October 1, 2024, Roland and another council official named Etongo Ismaeil were abducted by gunmen utilizing a flying boat in the coastal region.
Alabo stated that the Cameroonian government held Nigerians in the area responsible for Roland’s abduction and sent soldiers to detain them.
“The Gendarmerie arrived in the community and began firing randomly into the air on the day they apprehended some of these Nigerians,” Alabo stated.
The man stated that his fellow community members in the troubled area contacted him, expressing how the incident had thrown them into a state of panic and anxiety in the border town.
During the raid, several Nigerians were detained in Idabato II, including Iseoluwa Eniola, Feran Ajimosun, Idowu Ajimosun, Abiola Ajimosun, Blessing Ajimosun, Sunny Bassey, Feran Samagbeyi and Godwin.
Governor imposes lockdown on community
learned that Bernard Okalia, the South-West Governor of Cameroon, made a visit to Idabato on October 8, 2024.
He was reported to have announced a complete lockdown of the area, primarily inhabited by Nigerian fishermen.
It was reported that Okalia gave the Nigerians and Cameroonians in the community a 72-hour ultimatum to ensure Roland is brought back alive.
A video from the visit, acquired by our correspondent, captured him stating: “All shops are closed…the churches will remain shut until further notice. There is no exit or entry in all of Idabato.”
Alabo stated that Nigerians in the community were left economically disadvantaged, resulting in hunger and frustration.
However, residents were reported to have defied the governor’s order in early November by continuing with their fishing activities.
“They remained at home inactive for three weeks. People faced hunger as their means of earning a living was suspended, which forced them to venture out in search of food,” Alabo explained.
The action reportedly angered the Cameroonian authorities, prompting them to deploy soldiers in Idabato on November 10th and 11th, 2024, to arrest Nigerians residing in the community.
Alabo reported that the soldiers entered the community and began firing randomly into the air, resulting in various injuries among many Nigerians.
Arrest of Pastors
During the lockdown in Idabato II, Nigeria, churches were also closed.
However, as Nigerians resumed their regular routines, churches also opened on Sundays for Christians.
“The former leader of the Bakassi Peninsula stated that certain soldiers entered the Assembly Church of God in the region and apprehended Nigerian pastors who had been instructed not to engage in any activities.”
The pastors arrested by Cameroonian soldiers that day were named Adeleke Omoniye, Cascar Ubom, Etim Asuquo, Olamide Ayeye, and Umoh Atete.
Supporting these claims, a Nigerian leader from Idabato, who preferred to be identified as Johnson for security reasons, stated that the pastors’ lives were at risk.
Johnson stated that the Cameroonian soldiers swiftly took the pastors to undisclosed locations.
“The Cameroonian soldiers detained the pastors,” Johnson explained. “Several days after, we received news of their release, yet they have not appeared.”
The source also reported that the incident compelled numerous individuals to move to neighboring communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
“The source disclosed, ‘We’re in a state of panic. The Cameroonian authorities have made life extremely difficult for Nigerians living in Idabato. People from all major Nigerian tribes are present here: Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Efik, and others.'”
On October 20, 2024, during the lockdown, a Nigerian woman named Esther Okon passed away after giving birth to her baby.
According to reports, Okon bled to death after childbirth because she did not receive any medical treatment at the hospital.
An executive from the Nigerian Union in Idabato, speaking anonymously, revealed this information and mentioned that the woman had been in labor since October 19th.
According to the source, Okon could have survived if she had been taken to Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State; however, there was no transportation available.
“It takes just two hours by speedboat, but if we use a flying boat, it only takes 45 minutes to reach Akwa Ibom,” the source explained.
A Nigerian man, who identified himself as a friend of Okon’s husband but chose to remain anonymous for security reasons, confirmed the incident. He reported that her body was returned to Nigeria following the completion of some paperwork with Cameroonian authorities.
“The source stated that the body was transported to Ibaka, Nigeria after her husband completed paperwork with the Cameroonian government.”
Payments of taxes
One of the issues leading to conflicts between Cameroonian authorities and Nigerians in Idabato is related to tax payments.
Johnson stated that although the authorities had accused Nigerian nationals in Idabato of tax evasion, evidence proving their compliance with tax payments was presented to them multiple times.
“The source mentioned that we possess documents, such as receipts given to us as proof after tax payments, referred to as the annually collected global tax.”
Saturday PUNCH discovered that certain taxes may not have been submitted to the appropriate authorities.
Unsuccessful interventions
When questioned about the potential involvement of their Consulate-Generals’ offices from the two West African nations, Nigerian nationals stated that their efforts had been unproductive.
“I visited the Consulate-General of Cameroon in Nigeria, but to no avail. I was not permitted to meet with the woman. I’ve since learned that she is a newly appointed official,” Alabo mentioned.
Attempts to contact the Consulate-General of Cameroon in Nigeria proved unsuccessful, as both phone numbers and email addresses listed on their website seemed inactive at the time this report was filed.
Reaction from NiDCOM
Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission informed Saturday PUNCH that the issue falls under the responsibility of the consular division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Explaining why the matter was beyond NiDCOM’s jurisdiction, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission’s Head of Media, stated that it now pertained to both Nigeria and Cameroon.
“NiDCOM solely deals with issues concerning Nigerians abroad,” stated Balogun. “This particular case involves two governments and should be addressed by the consular office.”
Additionally, the NiDCOM spokesman mentioned that they were not aware of the incident.
Attempts to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the issue were unsuccessful because the phone number was not connecting.
An email was sent to the ministry’s address, but no response had been received by the time this report was filed.
In 2002, the International Court of Justice granted Cameroon control over the Bakassi Peninsula, known for its oil wealth.
On June 12, 2006, the Greentree Agreement was signed by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Cameroonian President Paul Biya, detailing the withdrawal of Nigerian troops and transfer of authority.
Some Nigerians relocated from the community to coastal areas within the Nigerian states of Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
Meanwhile, approximately 50,000 Nigerians continue to reside in the Bakassi Peninsula. They assert that even though Idabato is currently under Cameroonian control, it remains their ancestral home.
