South West: Governor issues Idabato population ultimatum to produced kidnapped DO alive!.

Governor speaking to the press after emergency meeting

The Governor of the South West Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai, has issued a stern warning to kidnappers of the Divisional Officer, DO of Idabato Subdivision, in Ndian Division, to release the administrative official alive within 72 hours.

Bernard Okalia Bilai issued the untimatum in Idabato on Tuesday October 8, during an emergency meeting he chaired in the Subdivision.

Addressing administrative, traditional, local and religious leaders, the governor called on indigenes and foreigners to ensure the safe return of Ewane Roland, to ensure peace and security in the area. 

“…the kidnapping of the Divisional Officer is unacceptable…I am giving you 72 hours to give peace a last chance and avoid embarrassing our two countries…you know those responsible for the kidnap of the Divisional Officer of Idabato…let them bring him back in good health,” he said. 

The governor also disclosed that Ewane Roland's abduction was carried out with the complicity of certain Nigerian businesspersons, who, according to him, refused to comply with Cameroonian laws by evading taxes. 

"The DO was merely performing his duty as a representative of the State, fighting illegal activities, and demanding the payment of taxes. For this, he was kidnapped and taken to Nigeria," the governor stated. 

He warned that failure to release the DO would lead to a lockdown of the town, which would significantly disrupt daily life and local businesses.

Governor Bilai insisted that Cameroonian laws will be implemented to the letter, urging the largely Nigerian population, comprising 95% of Idabato's residents, to respect the laws of a country that had welcomed them. 

He reminded them that they enjoyed a tax-free period under a previous agreement, which had now expired, but expressed frustrations that many were abusing this policy of peaceful coexistence and hospitality by disregarding Cameroonian laws and resorting to kidnapping State officials to avoid paying taxes. 

Governor Okalia Bilai exchanging with his collaborators in Bakassi

 

“Idabato is Cameroonian territory” 

Despite such a provocation, he maintained that Cameroon, being a peaceful nation, will not be drawn into conflicts because of such an incident. 

"Idabato is Cameroonian territory…anyone who wishes to live here must abide by the rules and regulations of this country,” he warned.

The governor thus declared a lockdown of all activities in the town, with churches, businesses, mosques and all other activities suspended until further notice.

On his part, the mayor of Idabato, Etongo Efange, revealed that the Enjor Group in Nigeria carried out the abduction. He noted that this was not the first time the group had committed such act, recalling that they had attacked him and his family at their home in 2019.

The Divisional Officer was abducted along with a staff of the Idabato Council, Etongo Ismaiel, around 2:15 a.m. on the night of October 1, 2024. The abductors are said to have taken the direction to Nigeria on board speedboats. 

The population is quoted as saying they heard heavy gunshots in the night of the unfortunate incident. According to accounts, the kidnappers surrounded the Divisional Officer’s residence, before breaking in and firing gunshots to scare the population.     

Despite the difficult security situation caused by the kidnapping of the Divisional Officer, Governor Okalia Bilai assured the population that security has been stepped up in the area to ensure the security of persons and their properties.

The kidnapping of the Divisional Officer of Idabato is a major blow to government’s efforts to fight kidnappings and other crimes in the Bakassi Peninsula. Government has set up several security posts in the area, manned by members of the elite Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR, and several mobile patrols in the high seas.

Denizens of the area, majority of them Nigerians, have testified to the improved security situation in the area since it was handed over to Cameroon after the Green Tree Accord. While the latest incident will dampen the efforts, the road covered so far is commendable. 

 

 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3255 of Thursday October 10, 2024

 

 

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