‘IPOB and Cameroon secessionists planning to team up to destabilize both countries’ – FG

The Federal Authorities of Nigeria has stated that the Indigenous Folks of Biafra, IPOB, plan to type alliances with secessionist teams in Cameroon with a view to destabilize each nations.

The Nationwide Safety Adviser; Main Basic Babagana Monguno (rtd) made this identified whereas talking yesterday, August 24, on the opening ceremony of the eighth session of Nigeria – Cameroon Trans-Border Safety Committee assembly on the Transcorp Hilton Resort, Abuja.

Monguno reiterated that Nigeria’s territory won’t ever be used as a “haven or staging space” by any group of secessionists to destabilize one other pleasant sovereign nation.

He pledged that Nigeria will work closely together to make sure that any actual or perceived makes an attempt to type any alliances between secessionist teams in Nigeria and Cameroon are decisively handled.

Monguno stated: “We’ll proceed to help the efforts of the Cameroonian authorities by partaking all aggrieved parties to de-escalate the security concerns in the North West and southwest areas of the nation

“An rising concern is the try by secessionist teams in Nigeria to type alliances with secessionist teams in Cameroon with a view to destabilize each nations. Let me re-emphasize what I discussed in my opening remarks throughout the sixth Session in 2019; President Muhammadu Buhari reassures you that Nigeria’s territory won’t ever be used as a haven or staging space by any group of secessionists to destabilize one other pleasant sovereign nation.

“As well as, we’ll work intently collectively to make sure that any actual or perceived makes an attempt to type any alliances between secessionist teams in Nigeria and Cameroon are decisively handled. Moreover, we’ll proceed to help the efforts of the Cameroonian authorities by partaking all aggrieved events to de-escalate the safety issues within the North West and southwest areas of the nation.

“Essentially the most dominant transnational safety difficulty stays the specter of terrorism perpetrated by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs). These terrorist teams proceed to take advantage of the porous border areas to disrupt the livelihoods of harmless residents of their communities.

“At this level, I’m glad to acknowledge that the shut counter-terrorism collaboration between our two nations has considerably curtailed the actions of those terrorists in addition to different types of criminality. On this regard, you could have constantly demonstrated your braveness, resilience, dedication, and steadfastness in the direction of making certain peace and stability together with the border areas of Cameroon and Nigeria.

“It’s nevertheless essential to strongly reiterate that the work of  securing our territorial borders is a collective accountability and subsequently we have to emphasize the importance of the sideline meetings of the Governors of contiguous border States/Areas. Their collaboration would little question help in cross-border safety and growth initiatives.

“It’s equally crucial to have interaction the border communities and the normal/native authorities on the grassroot ranges in translating the choices of the Governors’ discussion board into concrete actions. This may be achieved via the activation of the Native Bilateral Committees which may additionally function platforms for integration and revival of our historic and socio-cultural ties.

“Our collective efforts underneath the auspices of the Multi-Nationwide Joint Job Drive (MNJTF) to considerably degrade terrorist actions within the Lake Chad Basin are yielding optimistic outcomes. This multilateral platform in collaboration with our worldwide companions must be additional enhanced as we’re witnessing the gradual motion of some terrorist teams from the Maghreb to the Sahel with a view to type alliances.

“Nonetheless, we’re additionally selling sequence of developmental efforts within the North-Jap a part of the nation to rehabilitate a lot of the remoted communities affected by the wanton destruction dedicated by terrorists.”

Reiterating the significance of increasing commerce and funding with a view to create a extra viable and steady financial system for “our folks”, Monguno stated: “Nigeria is certainly one of Cameroon’s largest buying and selling companions regardless of the safety issues alongside a number of the buying and selling routes equivalent to from Maiduguri to Kousseri or Maroua; Jabbi Lamba to Garoua; in addition to from Enugu to Bamenda amongst others. Our two Presidents have earlier known as for the event of those trans-boundary commerce corridors which might little question function veritable platforms for the combination of  ECOWAS  and ECCAS sub-regions.

“Nevertheless, to successfully obtain this feat, we should collectively tackle smuggling of prohibited gadgets and irregular migration amongst different transnational organized crimes. In the meantime, it’s essential to state that this commerce relationship is additional bolstered by the latest conferment on Aliko Dangote, a Nigerian businessman with Cameroon’s high civilian award – Commander of the Nationwide Order of Valour for his excellent contribution to the infrastructural growth of Cameroon via his cement crops.

“As well as, the newly constructed 1.5km, a two-lane bridge between Nigeria and Cameroon in Ekot-Mfum border space of Cross River State is designed to ease motion, facilitate commerce, enhance cross border safety in addition to strengthen relations between each nations.

“We should subsequently consolidate our joint efforts to address all the current and emerging security threats affecting each nations. That is as a result of grave and unintended penalties of permitting such threats to thrive in our surroundings. Clearly, this underscores the collective resolve of our Presidents to proceed to advertise peace and stability in our  respective nations. I strongly imagine that each nations will surmount the same and assorted safety challenges and even emerge stronger and extra united.”

In his remarks, Minister of the Territorial Administration, Republic of Cameroon, Mr. Atanga Nji Paul, declared the readiness of Cameroon to proceed to work with Nigeria to accentuate trans-border safety alongside the 2 nation’s borders citing a resurgence of  assaults by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist teams and secessionists agitations in addition to kidnapping and banditry.