The Senate has summoned the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, to appear before it and explain the reason behind the influx of refugees from the Republic of Cameroon to some border communities in Cross River State and its attendant security fallout.
It also called on the authorities to increase military presence and intensify border patrol within the area to prevent further acts of trespass by Cameroonian soldiers, and asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to urgently liaise with his Cameroonian counterpart to secure the release of innocent Nigerians.
Resolutions of the Senate Tuesday were sequel to a motion by Senator John Owan Enoh, APC, Cross River Central, entitled, “Influx of Refugees from the Republic of Cameroon to some border communities in Cross River State and its attendant security fallout.”
It was co- sponsored by Senators Rose 0. Oko, PDP, Cross River North and Gershom H. Bassey, PDP, Cross River South.
The Senate called on Nigeria and Cameroon to strengthen the capacity of Nigeria-Cameroon trans-border security committee aimed at addressing emerging trans-border security issues confronting the two countries.
The upper chamber also urged the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, to intensify ongoing efforts at protecting the Cameroonian refugees and assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement.
It equally called on all relevant agencies of government saddled with the responsibility of managing emergencies, such as National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, to intensify their remedial efforts of providing relief materials to the refugees.
Presenting the motion, Senator Enoh said: “The Senate notes that the current agitation for the independence of Southern Cameroon has caused influx of refugees to some border communities in Cross River State and over six thousand of the refugees are currently squatting at Obanliku, Bold, Etung and Ikom Local Government Areas of the state.
“It further notes that as at December 16, 2017, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, UNHCR, had biometrically registered ten thousand arrivals in remote areas of Nigeria’s Cross River State and indicated that thousands more are awaiting registration
“It is worried about the precarious situation of women and children, which make up about 80 percent of the approximately ten thousand registered refugees and of these persons are boys and girls who fled to Nigeria unaccompanied and separated children from their parents and are, therefore, vulnerable.
“The Senate is further worried that the lack of work for women combined with the over stretched reception facilities creates a higher risk for prostitution, sexual and gender-based violence.
“It is concerned that some school buildings now serve as temporary refugee camps which are uninhabitable, and families that make use of them are deprived of private space and the right to family dignity;
“It is further concerned that most of the refugees are ill and lack basic needs, while some are expectant mothers without medical care;
“The Senate is ware that some of them are currently accommodated by members of these border communities, with some households taking care of about twenty refugees with their facilities over stretched.
“It is further aware that the refugees population increase on daily basis and has, therefore, put further pressure on demand for medical treatment, shelter, food, mattresses, beddings, towel, toiletries, drugs and other basic needs.
“It is informed that on January 25, 2018, more than 80 Cameroonian soldiers with various weapons crossed the international boarder of the Danare-Daddi / Danare-Bodom axis and abducted five natives;
“The Senate observes that this is a calculated assault/offence from the Cameroonian military on Nigeria and an outright defiance of Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty, not minding the consequences of crossing the International boundary to carry out intimidation and harassment on the already alarmed citizens of Danare, with warnings of further assault.”
