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Cameroon: Aren’t Nigerians our Brothers & Sisters?

Nigerian fishermen flee Cameroon due to maltreatment

Nigerian fishermen numbering about 2,000 have fled Cameroun Republic due to the violence and extortion being perpetuated by the country’s soldiers and indigenous people.

Akwa and Ibom Fishermen in Cameroon

James Audi, the leader of the fleeing fishermen, made this known on Thursday while speaking in Yola, Adamawa State.

Audi revealed that although the fishermen had residential permits, they were still being subjected to constant harassment, incarceration and extortion by gendarmes who didn’t accord any recognition to their permits.

“We are always been inundated with constant harassment, unjustifiable incarceration, intimidation and extortion in the hands of gendarmes,” Audi said.

“Our women are worst affected by this onslaught because of the manner their fundamental rights are being abused with impunity. They are constantly being harassed, especially on market days whenever they take their wares to the market.”

The fisherman said the local Banana and Musku tribes whom they have stayed with for decades were also threatening them with violence besides the constant harassment they faced from security operatives.

“For close to three months, our economy has been relegated to the background following the directive given by the local tribes that we should fish no more. This has never happened to us,” Audi said.

He said the fishermen had to flee from the country following the renewed violence that was targeted at them, saying they were left with no option than to leave for fear of being killed.

He pointed out that their predicament became worse when security operatives who should have protected them from being attacked were treating their complaints with levity.

“We have been living in that area for the past 70 years when our grandfathers settled in the area but we never had it so bad following the discrimination from local residents,” Audi said.

He also revealed that they had earlier reported their alleged maltreatment to the Nigerian ambassador to Cameroon but nothing was done about it.

According to him, one of their colleagues was attacked and left with severe injury while they were fleeing the country.

The fisherman pleaded to both the Nigerian and Cameroonian governments to come to their aid.

Chid Okoye | July 26, 2013 | Nigerian Telegraph|

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