Five Nigerian pastors and other residents of the Idabato II community in Cameroon, previously known as the Bakassi Peninsula, have been detained by the Cameroonian authorities following the kidnapping of the area's Divisional Officer, Ewane Roland, by armed men in early October 2024. The incident, which occurred on October 1, saw Roland and another council official, Etongo Ismaeil, abducted by gunmen using a flying boat in the coastal area.
Eniola Alabo, a former chairman of the Yoruba community in the area, revealed in an interview that the Cameroonian government had blamed Nigerians for the abduction and sent soldiers to arrest them. On the day of the arrests, Alabo said, the Gendarmerie fired sporadically into the air, causing widespread panic in the border town. Among those detained were Iseoluwa Eniola, Feran Ajimosun, Idowu Ajimosun, Abiola Ajimosun, Blessing Ajimosun, Sunny Bassey, Feran Samagbeyi, and Godwin.
The situation worsened when Cameroon’s South-West Governor, Bernard Okalia, visited Idabato on October 8, 2024. He declared a total lockdown of the community, primarily populated by Nigerian fishermen, and gave an ultimatum for Roland’s safe return. During the lockdown, the economic activities of the residents were severely disrupted, causing widespread hunger and frustration. Despite the governor’s order, many residents defied the restrictions and returned to their fishing activities, which led to further confrontations with the authorities.
On November 10 and 11, 2024, Cameroonian soldiers once again raided the community, shooting sporadically in the air, which led to several Nigerians being injured. In addition, churches that had been closed during the lockdown were reopened, and on one occasion, soldiers stormed the Assembly Church of God and arrested five Nigerian pastors—Adeleke Omoniye, Cascar Ubom, Etim Asuquo, Olamide Ayeye, and Umoh Atete—for allegedly violating the ban on community activities.
One local leader, who identified himself as Johnson for security reasons, claimed the pastors were taken to unknown locations and that their lives were in danger. Although it was later reported that the pastors were released, they have yet to be seen by their community members. This situation has caused many Nigerians in Idabato to flee to neighboring communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in Nigeria.
The lockdown also led to tragic consequences. Esther Okon, a Nigerian woman in labor, died on October 20, 2024, after complications during childbirth. She bled to death after being unable to access medical care due to the restrictions. Her body was later transported to Nigeria after her husband signed some documents with the Cameroonian authorities.
Compounding the tensions between the Nigerian residents and the Cameroonian authorities is a dispute over tax payments. The authorities accused the Nigerian nationals of tax evasion, although the Nigerians presented documents, including receipts for taxes paid. The Nigerian residents also raised concerns about the failure of diplomatic interventions, with little to no response from both the Nigerian and Cameroonian consular offices.
Despite these ongoing challenges, the Nigerians in the Idabato community have little hope for a swift resolution. The Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) clarified that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the commission stating that it only deals with matters directly affecting Nigerian nationals abroad.
The Bakassi Peninsula, which was awarded to Cameroon by the International Court of Justice in 2002, remains a sensitive issue for many Nigerians, with around 50,000 Nigerian nationals still living in the region. Although the territory is now under Cameroonian control, many of these Nigerians consider the area their ancestral home.
