Cameroon Detains Five Nigerian Pastors Over Abduction of Local Official

Cameroonian authorities have detained five Nigerian pastors and several other individuals residing in the Idabato II community, previously known as the Bakassi Peninsula, in connection with the abduction of a local official. The detention follows the kidnapping of the community’s Divisional Officer, Ewane Roland, by armed men on October 1, 2024.

Eniola Alabo, a former leader of the Yoruba community in the area, confirmed the arrests during an interview with Saturday Punch. Local media reported that Roland, along with council official Etongo Ismaeil, was abducted by gunmen using a flying boat in the coastal area.

The Cameroonian government has blamed Nigerians in the region for the abduction and responded by deploying soldiers to apprehend them. According to Alabo, the Gendarmerie began a violent crackdown on the community, firing sporadically into the air during the arrests, which caused panic among local residents.

Several Nigerians, including Iseoluwa Eniola, Feran Ajimosun, and Sunny Bassey, were reportedly detained during this operation.

In response to the abduction, Cameroon’s South-West Governor, Bernard Okalia, visited Idabato on October 8, 2024, where he declared a total lockdown of the area. The lockdown, which affected primarily Nigerian fishermen, was accompanied by a 72-hour ultimatum to produce Roland alive.

“Shops are closed… the churches are closed until further notice. No exit, no entry in this whole Idabato,” Okalia stated during his visit.

Local sources revealed that the lockdown severely impacted the livelihoods of residents, leading to widespread hunger and frustration. Despite the restrictions, some residents resumed fishing activities in defiance of the governor’s order. This provoked a harsh response from Cameroonian forces, who returned to the area in early November to arrest Nigerians and impose further military control.

On November 10th and 11th, soldiers raided the community, opening fire and injuring several residents. Among the arrested were five Nigerian pastors—Adeleke Omoniye, Cascar Ubom, Etim Asuquo, Olamide Ayeye, and Umoh Atete—who were taken from their church, the Assembly Church of God, for allegedly violating the ban on public gatherings.

One local leader, identified as Johnson for security reasons, reported that the pastors were taken to an undisclosed location and later released. However, their whereabouts remain unclear, and the situation has caused significant concern among the Nigerian community in Idabato. Many Nigerians have fled to neighboring regions in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states due to the escalating tensions.

Tragically, during the lockdown, a Nigerian woman named Esther Okon died on October 20, 2024, after giving birth at home. Okon reportedly bled to death as she could not receive medical assistance due to the movement restrictions. Her body was later repatriated to Nigeria following negotiations with the Cameroonian authorities.

In addition to these issues, a longstanding dispute over tax payments between Nigerians in Idabato and the Cameroonian government has exacerbated tensions. Nigerian nationals in the community have been accused of tax evasion, despite providing proof of their compliance with tax regulations.

Efforts by Nigerian officials to intervene in the crisis have been largely unsuccessful. Alabo, a prominent community leader, expressed frustration with the lack of response from the Cameroonian consulate in Nigeria and confirmed that the Nigerian government had yet to take effective action.

The Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) stated that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the consular division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as it involves both Nigerian and Cameroonian governments. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not responded to requests for comment.

The Bakassi Peninsula, an oil-rich area, was awarded to Cameroon by the International Court of Justice in 2002. Despite the transfer of authority, an estimated 50,000 Nigerians remain in the area, claiming it as their ancestral homeland.