Rampant Militant Attacks Plague Bakassi Communities, Leaving Children in Distress

Bakassi communities are grappling with the harrowing impact of rampaging militants, who, on a daily basis, subject children as young as five to beatings, shootings, and other forms of maltreatment in their ramshackle, raffia-roofed houses.

Over the last five months, three reported cases of children being shot have emerged, resulting in two tragic deaths. In one incident, a young girl from the Ine Utang fishing settlement in the Dayspring community, Bakassi, was shot in the arm, and due to the absence of medical facilities, she continues to endure excruciating pain.

Children, like ten-year-old Chris Akpan, share agonizing stories, revealing that militants enforce their bidding through violence, creating an environment of constant fear and danger. The situation is dire for these youngsters, who, during holidays, visit their parents in the settlement, only to face persistent threats from armed militants disrupting their lives.

Ubong Etim, an eight-year-old, highlights the absence of schools in the community, expressing a desire for education while emphasizing their current reality of fishing as a means to raise money and obtain food.

Ine Utang fishing settlement, home to over 1500 settlers, lacks basic amenities like health facilities and schools. The absence of medical care forces residents to undertake arduous journeys to Calabar in canoes or speed boats in case of serious ailments, wasting precious time.

The community, already facing challenges, witnessed the destruction of around 200 small houses made of raffia due to a fire incident a month ago, leaving affected families without homes.

Amidst the chaos, the territorial dispute between Cameroon and Akwa Ibom State adds another layer of complexity. Cross River State, however, administers the area, known as Dayspring I and II.

Elders like Mr. Akpan Akpan decry the lack of government presence, leading to vulnerability against heavily armed militant groups. Without security posts, schools, or healthcare centers, the settlers live in constant fear of Cameroonian gendarmes and Ijaw militants.

The community’s plea for intervention and increased security echoes, with residents hoping for a visible presence from the Nigerian Navy to safeguard against daily attacks. Recently, the Nigerian Navy Ship commander, Vincent Gbaranwi, acknowledged the dire situation and conducted a free medical outreach to address health concerns, pledging increased surveillance.

The Peninsula is fraught with militancy, as evidenced by armed groups like the Dragon Fighter Marine, asserting control over Biafran territories. The clash with Rapid d’Intervention Battalions in Abana resulted in casualties, further intensifying the challenges faced by the vulnerable rural dwellers, especially children, left to bear the brunt of criminality in the area.