The Indigenous Displaced People of Bakassi Communities (IDPBC) have issued a strong warning, threatening to take legal action against the Federal Government of Nigeria if their long-standing grievances are not addressed. The group, representing displaced Bakassi residents, has stated its readiness to file a case with the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, seeking redress for what they describe as the maltreatment of the Bakassi people since the 2002 ceding of the peninsula to Cameroon.
In a petition dated January 6, 2025, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, IDPBC demanded the abrogation of Cross River State Law No. 7 of 2007, which created the new Bakassi out of Akpabuyo Local Government Area (LGA). They also urged the federal government to mandate the National Assembly to delist Bakassi LGA from Nigeria’s 774 LGAs as outlined in the 1999 Constitution. Alleging gross misappropriation of funds meant for Bakassi development within Akpabuyo LGA, the group called for immediate intervention.
The petition, which was also sent to key officials including the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, outlined their demands in detail. Among their primary grievances is the lack of resettlement and development for unceded parts of the Bakassi Peninsula, such as Dayspring 1 and 2 and Kwa Islands. IDPBC stressed that these areas, meant to serve as resettlement zones, have been neglected, with funds allegedly squandered under the guise of development in Akpabuyo LGA.
The petitioners also demanded the relocation of the Bakassi local council headquarters from Ikot Effiom in Akpabuyo LGA to Abana in Dayspring Island, as constitutionally recognized. They emphasized the need for land reclamation, shoreline protection, and other critical infrastructure on Dayspring and Kwa Islands to restore a sense of belonging to the displaced population. Additionally, they called for enhanced security in these regions to protect lives and property.
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“Failure to grant these prayers for the displaced people after 17 years of ceding part of our ancestral homeland, we may approach the relevant court to address these issues,” the petitioners stated.
The ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon followed a 2002 judgment by the International Court of Justice, a decision that continues to spark discontent among displaced communities. IDPBC lamented that promises made to address their plight have remained unfulfilled nearly two decades later.
The petition was signed by 13 prominent stakeholders, including former council chairman Chief Iyadim Amboni Iyadim, clan head HRH Edem Archibong, and women’s leader Comfort Effiom.
This latest move by IDPBC underscores the persistent challenges facing Bakassi’s displaced population and raises questions about governance, transparency, and accountability in addressing the aftermath of the historic ceding. The group’s ultimatum to seek legal redress highlights their determination to secure justice and a better future for their people.
