Cross River State Government urges President Tinubu to establish military point in trouble zone of Belegate, Obanliku LGA.
The Cross River State government has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to establish a military base in the troubled Belegate community of Obanliku Local Government Area.
The call was made by Mr. James Anam, the Director General of Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), during a press conference held in Calabar on Tuesday.
Anam explained that the government had already appealed to the military high command for the establishment of a military base in the community. The objective of this move is to deter attackers from the farming community, as the residents live in constant fear.
The recent attacks on Belegate community by Ambazonian separatists from Cameroon have heightened concerns about the security situation in the area.
The separatists alleged that the community harbored fugitives from the South West of Cameroon. The attacks last month sources said had resulted in the killing of a clan head, abduction of residents, rape of women, burning of several number of houses, and the occupation of the area for over a week. Nigerian security operatives were eventually able to intervene and restore calm.
The establishment of a military base in the area is seen as a crucial step towards reducing incidents of attacks and addressing the security challenges faced by the community.
Anam further explained that estabishing military base in the area would frofer prompt lasting solution in order to protect the lives and properties of the residents.
Anam said, such a military presence would prevent the Ambazonian separatists from further attacks on the residents.
“The situation in Belegete and other borderline communities is worrisome to us as an agency. We have communicated with the Red Cross and NEMA for relief materials and indeed given their support to the community. With a military base, the people of Okwa and Belegate communities can be at rest because of the attacks by Ambazonian fighters.
“We have spoken to the people, asking them to be calm, as help would soon come because I know that the responsible administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will definitely swing into action to put an end to all the attacks,” Anam stressed
