By Cedar Chris
Hon. Peter Akpanke who is the member of the House of Representatives Decries Attack On Obanliku Community, tasks FG, Security Agencies, Others On Immediate Intervention.
Hon Akpanke who is the Federal House representative of Obanliku , Obudu and Bekwarra federal constituency in a statement , confirmed clan head and 30 others abducted by Ambazonian separatists.
Hon. Peter Akpanke, on Thursday the 7th of December 2023 in Abuja decried attacks by Cameroons Ambazonian separatists on Belegete community of Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State, saying it has left him in bitterness, sadness and disappointment.
He expressed his pain during a press conference with journalists on what he described as “horrific attack,” saying “the attackers abducted the clan head of Belegete community, HRH Chief Ogweshi Francis and 30 others including women and children”
He therefore called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to as a matter of urgency intervene to farestall more pains being inflicted on the peaceful Belegete community by ordering relevant security agencies to mount posts across the border communities.
The lawmaker also called the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to swiftly provide vital assistance to those affected by this tragedy and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to include areas affected by these acts that threatens our nation as well as places where Cameroonian Persons of Concern reside as high priority areas.
Akpanke said “Members of the press, esteemed colleagues, my dear people of Obanliku/Bekwarra/Obudu Federal Constituency,Cross Riverians in particular and Nigerians in general, “I stand before you today with a heavy heart, filled with profound anger, bitterness, sadness and disappointment.
“On the 5th of December, 2023, our peaceful community of Belegete was subjected to a horrific attack by suspected Ambazonian militants from the Republic of Cameroon.
“These barbaric individuals held our people hostage for over 24 hours, inflicting pain and suffering through gun violence, physical assault, and the destruction of properties worth millions of Naira.
“As some of you may be aware of ,my parents, siblings and children of the Belegete extraction witnessed the saddest day of our existence recently when armed separatists from the Republic of The Cameroons whom have been named Ambazonians attacked the sleepy and peaceful community of Belegete on the 5th day of December 2023.”
According to him, “Belegete community is a Nigerian border village between Nigeria and Cameroon within the edges of the Obanliku plateau in the hinterland of the Obudu Mountain Resort.
It is located about 400 kilometres north of the Nigerian port city of Calabar.
The community has been under siege by Ambazonian bandits since Tuesday 5th December 2023. The bandits have continued to shoot sporadically, beating and carting away people and valuable property to their camp across the border River between Nigeria and Cameron.
Among the over 30 people abducted is Chief Ogweshi Francis, the Clan Head of Belegete Clan. Apart from those taken captive, several other men, women and children have been abused, injured and emotionally traumatized.”
He stated that the area where this barbaric and dastard attack is being unleashed is the ancestral home of the Belegete people. They have inhabited the place for several centuries as law-abiding citizens of Nigeria. They have lived peacefully and harmoniously with their far and near neighbours. There is therefore no justification whatsoever for this external invasion on Nigeria’s territory and the disruption of the life of her citizens. His statement reads .
“Beyond the plights brought upon the Belegete people, this unprovoked aggression is a frontal attack on the territorial integrity of Nigeria”.
