Cameroon Invasion: Cross River North Stakeholders Demand Military Deployment To Displaced Belegete Community

By Ndifreke BASSEY

Cross River State stakeholders under the auspices of "Who is Who in Cross River North, Our People, Our Heroes and Our Heritage" have demanded immediate deployment of military to protect the displaced people of Belegete in Northern senatorial district and safeguard Nigerian territory.

The Belegete people have in recent times been invaded by the Ambazonia Rebels from Cameroon and the traditional ruler killed.

The invasion has led to the displacement of hundreds of the citizens of Belegete, rendering them homeless and refugees in the land.

The resolutions of the stakeholders, which proceeded a visit to the community, was signed by HRH Chief Mrs Martina Odom Chairman, Prof Joseph Ushie Alt.Chairman, Prof John Undie Secretary, Chief Dr Peter Ojie and it's convener D.C Enamhe.

Following it's visit to the area, the stakeholders recommended that "There is a dire need for a follow up visit to the camp for the supply of more urgent needs of the people.

"The committee responsible for relevant government intervention should urgently deliver on their mandate to speedily return the IDPs to their homestead as continuous stay in the camp is inimical to both IDPs and the others.

"The medical intervention should be in two phases: the 1st phase should be immediate involving a resident Doctor up the ranch to examine and prescribe routine drugs for the maintenance of their health pending the 2nd phase which shall involve a visiting team of health practitioners and provision of medical services including surgery where necessary.

"A sensitization and rehabilitation exercise should be undertaken to educate the Belegete people on security and international border conventions before they are returned to their homestead", they said.

They also implored President Tinubu to urgently direct the Military and relevant agencies to pay attention to the crisis in Belegete not only to ensure that no inch of our land is lost, but also to guarantee that the people are restored to their homes and they resume living peacefully in their community duly protected by our national security agencies as it is the case in all our international boundaries.

They also called on the Cross River State Government and the State Emergency Management Agency, particularly, to deploy men and materials to Belegete to address this emergency to ameliorate the hardship our people are going through at the moment as a result of the mindless destruction of their homes and property.

As part of its visit to the area, the stakeholders donated a number of items comprising 300 mother tubers of Yams, 5 100kg bags of garri(cassava flakes), 158 pieces of blanket sheets, 30 50kg bags of Parboiled Rice and 10 100 kg bags of beans and Financial Support to the IDPs of Belegete.