Government denies Bakassi takeover by Nigerian armed separatist faction

Cameroonian soldiers are in control of the Bakassi peninsula in the country’s South West Region.

Reports say the peninsula that was once disputed over by Cameroon and neighboring Nigeria was for some moments taken over by armed men.

The gunmen, reports say, are of a Nigerian separatist faction. A group identified as the Biafra Nations League, BNL is reported to have confirmed it carried out the attack, pulling down the Cameroon flag.

“We gathered that the action was carried out last night by militias loyal to the group following threats by BNL to remove billboards bearing the Republic of Cameroon …,” reports quote Nigeria’s Daily Post newspaper.

Hoisting the Biafran flag on Cameroon territory however was not possible, reports say, as security forces retaliated with gunshots.

It should be recalled that the BNL had made threats weeks back after Cameroon and Nigerian envoys met to chart a way forward for bilateral cooperation in different sectors including security in the peninsula.

According to The Guardian Post newspaper, however, the administrative officer for Ndian Division in the South West region where the peninsula is located, has said the reports are false.

The paper narrates that the Ndian SDO told South West Regional governor the reports are false and “there is relative calm”.

Cameroon’s flag, he added, had not been carted away and the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR was maintaining peace in the peninsula as always.