Relatives of murdered DO and other Cameroonians express frustration

By Aloysius Agendia
Less than two months from the complete pull-out
of Nigeria from the disputed Bakassi Peninsular, unidentified gunmen have again dealt a crippling blow to the tottering peace process between Cameroon and Nigeira. Some Cameroonians, including the Divisional Officer of Kombo Abedimo-Bakassi, Felix Fonya Morfaw, were on June 8, abducted and  killed by yet to be identified militiamen.
Photo: D.O. Felix Morfaw greets President Paul Biya

The DO, who was accompanied by some senior military commanders, was reported to be on a field trip in the North region of Akwa- Northern Bakassi, a region which falls under his area of command. He was said to be heading to a site which is being used to store illegal arms. Reports say it was in this area that their boat was attacked.

It is still unclear whether the arms in question are those of Nigerian soldiers, the militias of the Niger Delta region of Cross River State, indigenes of Bakassi or those of Cameroonian soldiers. Initially, it was simply reported that the DO and some Cameroonian soldiers were all killed by unidentified gunmen. This was not immediately validated by the Cameroon government as it kept insisting that the DO. and the soldiers were abducted and their whereabout not known.

However, on Saturday June 14, the Cameroon government admitted that the DO and 5 other soldeirs were killed and remains mutilated. The remains of the slained are said to have been kept at the Morgue in Limbe. A Nigerian newspaper, THISDAY,  had earlier  quoted an eyewitness account which indicated, "--- the militants used an engine saw to cut the dead body of the DO to bits which they packed into a sack and sped off with."

Cameroonians whose relations were involved in the incident have been expressing their worries and frustration.  The younger brother of the DO, Amin George, says his brother "Was on duty in the area, when some militias from Nigeria surrounded his boat, killing most of the soldiers and staff on board". The D.O's brother says he was informed on June 9 that Mr Fonya Morfaw was among those killed.

Tension is high in the area and there are fears of a possible showdown between Cameroonian and Nigerian soldiers as reports indicate both countries are mobilising significant number of troops to the region. This is the worst incident in Bakassi since November last year when 21 Cameroonian soldiers were killed by still to be identified assailants. The Nigerian government denied any involvement in the November-2007 incident. It has been alleged the attack was home grown. Some heads rolled after the incident. The most significant was the sacking of the former Bakassi Military Command Colonel Oyono Mveng. He has still not been formally charged.

It would be recalled that in July 2002, the International Court of Justice at The Hague, ruled that Bakassi belongs to Cameroon.  In August 2006, Cameroon and Nigeria signed an accord in Green Tree-USA that paved the way for a progressive and rapid withdrawal of Nigerian troops from the area. Since then the Nigeria administration and military have been leaving the area and being replaced by Cameroonian military and administration.

The last contingent of Nigerian soldiers is expected to leave Bakassi in August, 2008. Many are wondering if this latest incident would delay the pull-out. The government of Cameroon has of late embarked on projects to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of the areas, who are made up of both Cameroonians and Nigerians.