The Nigerian government has donated relief materials to about 6,000 Cameroonians who are presently in asylum in cross Rivers state. The items which include Food and materials worth millions of naira were distributed in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River where they are taking refuge.
The food and materials were provided by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons on Sunday in Ikom. The items distributed to more than 600 refugees included rice, beans, garri, groundnut, palm oil, mattresses, cooking stoves and bed sheets.
Speaking during the exercise, the Federal Commissioner of the Refugee Commission, Mrs. Sadiya Umar-Farouq, discribed the gesture as federal government’s agenda of providing succour to asylum seekers in Nigeria.
The refugees are reportedly scattered in Obanliku, Etung, Boki, Ikom and Obudu local government areas of the state.
In her exact words: “The attention of federal government was drawn to the symbolic declaration of Sovereign State and Independence of Ambazonia by Anglophone Cameroonians through the hoisting of flags and national anthem in strategic locations in Cameroon onOctober1.
“This action culminated in repressive attacks by government security agents on armless civilians, destruction of property and arbitrary arrest and detention of mass population.
“The consequences of such attack has been the remarkable influx of Cameroonians into the bordering towns of Ikom, Obudu, Boki, Etung and Obudu in Cross River, Gembu in Taraba and other surrounding locations.”