The Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon, S. Lawan Abba Gashagar has handed a sealed envelope from President Buhari to his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya. State radio and television reported that the Nigerian diplomat met the Cameroonian dictator on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at the Unity Palace.

Ambassador Lawan Abba Gashagar said in an interview that for 30 minutes he discussed with President Paul Biya the bilateral relations between Cameroon and Nigeria and the socio-political crisis in Southern Cameroons.  “Nigeria is concerned about the crisis. We are for a united Cameroon. We pray that the dialogue will lead to a way out of the crisis” the Nigerian diplomat pointed out to the press.

On November 15, 2017, Paul Biya dispatched his Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Emmanuel René Sadi, to Nigeria with a “special message” for President Buhari. Thursday’s hearing may be seen as Buhari’s response to his Cameroonian counterpart. The visit comes at a time when the two countries are trying to bare varied moves performed by secessionist, boko haram and the ever increasing number of refugees in both territories.

Cameroon too has been tagged as a country producing refugees since the Anglophone crisis reached its maximum point last October 1, 2017. The process and threats leading to the declaration of independence performed by secessionist in the predominantly English speaking regions of Cameroon had pushed many Cameroonians to seek refuge both in Nigeria and in Francophone cities of Cameroon.

By Fru James with files from CIN and CNT