Cameroon Detains Five Nigerian Pastors Over Politician’s Abduction.
Five Nigerian pastors and several other residents of Idabato II, a community in Cameroon’s Bakassi Peninsula, have been detained by Cameroonian authorities following the abduction of Divisional Officer Ewane Roland by armed men in October.
Eyewitnesses reported that armed soldiers stormed the community, firing into the air and arresting residents, including the pastors, for allegedly defying a government directive to cease activities during a lockdown.
The crackdown was initiated after Governor Bernard Okalia declared a total shutdown of the area, demanding the safe return of the abducted official.
Residents were barred from leaving or entering the community, and essential activities such as fishing and worship were halted.
The detained pastors include Adeleke Omoniye, Cascar Ubom, Etim Asuquo, Olamide Ayeye, and Umoh Atete, who were apprehended while leading church services.
Community sources reveal that the soldiers transferred the pastors to undisclosed locations, leaving their fate uncertain.
The tense situation has led to panic among Nigerians in the region, with many relocating to neighboring Nigerian states like Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
Residents allege harassment by Cameroonian authorities, citing issues like tax disputes and restricted movement.
Meanwhile, efforts to secure intervention from Nigerian and Cameroonian consulates have so far been unfruitful.
NiDCOM clarified that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, given its diplomatic nature.
This incident adds to the lingering tension between Nigeria and Cameroon over the Bakassi Peninsula, which was handed over to Cameroon following the 2002 International Court of Justice ruling and the 2006 Greentree Agreement.
Despite the handover, about 50,000 Nigerians still reside in the area, claiming it as their ancestral home.
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