After 7 years in creeks, Bakassi militants surrender arms

After seven years in the creeks of Bakassi and Calabar in Cross River State, rampaging militants under the aegis of Bakassi Strike Force (BSF), last week finally surrendered their arms. The government of Professor Ben Ayade had granted them amnesty and promised full rehabilitation, according to the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed between […]

After seven years in the creeks of Bakassi and Calabar in Cross River State, rampaging militants under the aegis of Bakassi Strike Force (BSF), last week finally surrendered their arms. The government of Professor Ben Ayade had granted them amnesty and promised full rehabilitation, according to the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed between both parties.

The dreaded and well armed militants, led by a young man, General Benjamin Ene, popularly known as G1 or Simple, had tormented the people of Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas of the state for several years. Between 2015 and 2016, and part of 2017, they completely took control of the two local government areas, collecting tolls and several other levies from the people. They also set up local courts where they settled disputes and enforced directives. They completely usurped the functions of legally elected or appointed council officials, such that most, or all of them, abandoned these two local government areas and subsequently operated from Calabar, the state capital. They became lords and masters of the area. Any traditional ruler, chief or government official that dared them was summarily dealt with.

However, they had real running battles with security agencies, especially the military, leading to loss of lives from both sides.  But the leader of the group was unrelenting as he had vowed to avenge the killing of his men, as well as liberate the people of Bakassi, who he alleged were neglected.

Surprisingly, however, the  group changed their mind and agreed to surrender their arms and ammunition to the government, courtesy of a behind-the-scene intervention by Olumba Olumba  Obu, the spiritual leader of the Brotherhood  of the Cross and Star. General Ene is said to have a lot of belief and respect for the religious leader.

Over a year ago, when the military overran the bases of the BSF in the creeks in reaction to the killing of some soldiers on duty at Bakassi; many of the militants were killed, including key lieutenants to their leader. Their weapons were also destroyed and their leader declared wanted. Our correspondent gathered that it was at this point that Ene sneaked to Leader Obu for rescue at his 34 Ambo Street, Calabar.

According to members of the Brotherhood  of the Cross and Star, Leader Obu had severally warned him and other militant groups against incessant killings, kidnapping and violence, stressing that God hated such things.

During his meeting with Obu, the militant leader was said to have regretted the violent activities of his group and pleaded for the spiritual leader’s intervention.  He went with his wife and child.

“Henceforth, you must stop all forms of criminal activities against your people and the state. When you do this I guarantee that the authorities will not look for you again but will rather sort out your grievances with pardon and compensation,” Obu reportedly told him

It is strongly believed by many that it was the intervention by Obu that led to the amnesty from the state government.

About eight months after the meeting with Obu, the commander of the Operation Delta Safe (ODS), a military outfit saddled with the task of securing critical infrastructures of government in the South-South, Rear Admiral A. O. Suleiman, confirmed that the militant leader had shown remorse; hence he would be accepted and reintegrated into the society.

After a series of negotiations with the boys from selected locations, a memorandum of understanding was signed and they surrendered their arms.

Speaking when the militants came out from the creeks in their numbers at Ikang, the headquarters of Bakassi Local Government Area, to lay down their arms and be documented for the amnesty programme and full rehabilitation promised by the state government, Governor Ayade said that although the activities of the militants were unacceptable, they fought because “they watched as the graves of their ancestors were ceded to Cameroun.”

The governor said the loss of Bakassi, coupled with non-implementation of the Green Tree Agreement, degenerated into arms conflict. He, however, noted that the decision to take up arms against the Federal Government was counterproductive.

“The Bakassi Strike Force came about because they watched the graves of their ancestors, their livelihoods and lands ceded to Cameroun.  They felt the loss of Bakassi was unfair, the implementation of the Green Tree Agreement was not followed and it degenerated into arms conflict,” Ayade noted.

He, however, said the militant group did more harm than good in taking up arms. He promised to fully admit them into amnesty despite their atrocities. He pleaded with the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state so that the memorandum of understanding signed between the militants and government would be implemented successfully.

“The Bakassi deep seaport is a critical infrastructure that can engage the BSF. The Federal Government should assist the state because our allocation is very lean. Taking the BSF out of the creeks was a significant milestone,” Ayade said.

Also speaking, the commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Suleiman, thanked God that he was part of the history-making event. He warned that they were not begging the militants to surrender; therefore, they should not go back to the creeks as his men would go after them. He advised Governor Ayade to ensure that all the issues in the agreement were implemented.  “If the governor does not fulfill his promise to them, don’t invite me to pursue them,” he warned.

The state security adviser, Ani Eric Esin, said that with the amnesty, the repentant militants will become free citizens in the society. He added that the event was successful because of the collaboration of the state with the Operation Delta Safe, which initiated the idea of dialogue between the state and the militants.

Speaking, leader of the BSF said his boys were over 1,000 and were willing to surrender their arms. He said they had been in the creeks for over seven years but were really not fighting the state government, According to him, they genuinely fought for the people of Bakassi who suffered deprivation, dislocation, neglect and want. He expressed happiness that the state government resolved to grant them amnesty without much conditions..

He, however, appealed to government and security agencies to see their action as a thing of the past and promised that with the implementation of the memorandum of understanding, they would not return to the creeks.

A former commissioner for land in the state and special rapporteur for the amnesty programme, Bassey Ndem, commended the state government and security forces for making the event a huge success.