3,200 Bakassi people still in refugee camp - Sen. Ita-Giwa

Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa on Tuesday said 3,200 Bakassi people displaced by the UN ceding of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon were still in refugee camp.

Nigeria formally ceded Bakassi to Cameroon on Aug. 14, 2008, halting fifteen years of border conflict.

A UN-backed period of transition agreed by the two countries allow Cameroon to develop an administrative presence in the area.

Ita-Giwa in Lagos said that affected persons, including men, women and children were desperate to return to their communities.

“I am again appealing to the Federal Government to urgently resettle the 3, 200 Bakassi people still in refugee camp.

“These people have identities and able to know where they are from originally. So, they cannot continue to be refugees in their country.

“The displaced people urgently need to be resettled and compensation paid to the Cross River State Government in perpetuity," she said.

Bakassi was legally ceded by Nigeria to Cameroun in 2002 and Nigerians there had until August 2013 to decide to become Cameroonians or leave the territory.

The Senator, who lauded the Federal Government’s concern over the plight of the people, said the resettlement of the displaced Bakassi people was a cause she would continue to uphold.

“I am obliged to ensure that these people still in refugee camp are resettled equitably.

“They are more than anxious to return to their communities to continue their normal lives".