Baskadia

Neglected for 17 Years: Bakassi IDPs Present Legal Proof, Demand Resettlement

Calabar, Nigeria – The Indigenous Displaced People of Bakassi Communities (IDPBC), led by Chief Iyadim Amboni Iyadim, have called on the Federal Government to honor its 17-year-old commitment to properly resettle them following the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

At a meeting in Calabar on February 21, 2025, Chief Iyadim vehemently denied allegations that the IDPBC petitioned for Bakassi Local Government to be delisted from Nigeria’s constitutionally recognized 774 local councils. He described such claims as misleading, asserting that Bakassi remains an integral part of Nigeria.

• ⁠IDPBC REJECTS ALLEGATIONS OF SEEKING BAKASSI’S DELISTING:

Refuting a letter allegedly written by the Bakassi Peninsula Aborigines Communities on February 1, 2025, Chief Iyadim challenged its authors to provide any document proving that the IDPBC sought Bakassi’s removal from Nigeria’s administrative structure. He maintained that the displaced people of Bakassi are only advocating for their rightful resettlement, not the elimination of their local government status.

• ⁠UNRESOLVED RESETTLEMENT CRISIS AND LEGAL STRUGGLES

Chief Hon. Iyadim detailed the historical injustices faced by the displaced Bakassi people, citing the inadequacies of Law No. 7 of 2007, which designated three wards in Ikang as the new Bakassi Local Government Area. He emphasized that the law has outlived its usefulness and has failed to provide sustainable resettlement, yet all efforts to amend it have been ignored.

Despite multiple legal battles, including cases that reached the Supreme Court, the displaced people of Bakassi have yet to witness any tangible progress toward their resettlement. He lamented that government interventions have been insufficient and have left the affected communities in prolonged hardship.

• PRESENTING DOCUMENTS EVIDENCE :

To substantiate their claims, Chief Iyadim presented several documents, including:

- A letter from former Vice President Muhammad Sambo regarding the establishment of a technical committee for Bakassi resettlement.

- A letter from former INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, outlining Bakassi’s official boundaries at Dayspring 1, 2, and Qua Island.

- A position paper from Cross River State, signed by former Commissioner for Lands Barr. Edem Ekong, revoking land rights at Dayspring to facilitate Bakassi’s resettlement.

- Supreme Court verdicts and legal documents affirming the legitimacy of Bakassi's relocation claims.

• APPEAL TO PRESIDENT TINUBU AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The IDPBC appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to honor his campaign promise of resolving the Bakassi crisis. They urged the government to take a similar approach as in Borno and Adamawa states, where displaced communities have successfully been resettled.

Emphasizing their commitment to constitutional and legal means, the IDPBC reaffirmed their loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and highlighted their contributions to the last general elections. They stressed that the suffering of the displaced Bakassi people remains an unresolved humanitarian crisis that requires urgent intervention.

CONCLUSION: RENEWED CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION

The meeting concluded with a renewed plea for immediate government action to rectify 17 years of neglect. The IDPBC demanded that the Federal Government fulfill its long-standing commitments and ensure proper resettlement for the displaced Bakassi communities.

Chief Iyadim and his group remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice.