The federal government may soon respond to the request from Cross River State to establish special security outfits to secure lives and property of vulnerable border communities.
Many border communities in Cross River State have continued to suffer attacks as a result of ongoing armed conflict in the southwest part of Cameroon.
The region is struggling for self rule under the banner of Ambazonia Republic, leading to the proliferation of arms.
Last month, the Ambazonia rebel groups sauntered into Belegete and other nearby communities, where they killed clan head, abducted oer 30 persons, raped women, burnt Belegete houses and occupied it for over a week.
Director General of Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, James Anam disclosed that the agency have not only written to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and the Red Cross, but to the Chief of Army Staff on the dire need to establish a special security outfits in Belegete and other borderline communities.
In an interview with DAILY POST in Calabar, on Monday, Anam who resumed work at SEMA in November 2023 said, “The situation in Belegete and other borderline communities is dire and unfortunate.
“We have communicated with the Red Cross and NEMA for relief support for the displaced Belegete and Okwa communities of Obanliku LGA who were attacked, killed and displaced by the Ambazonia fighters from Cameroon, and their houses burnt.
“We have also written to the Chief of Army Staff on the dire need to establish special security outfits for borderline communities. We hope that this outfit will help to respond swiftly to the cry of the people.
“The security outfit will help to secure the porous borderline communities which leave the porous.
“The security outfit is going to be a federal unit. In no distant time we are going to have it”, he assured.
Border community, Belegete, others in dire need of special security outfits – C/River SEMA