The Governor of Nigeria’s Cross River State Ben Ayade has said that the crisis in Southern Cameroons is threatening the internal security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as both parties in the war have been smuggling arms through his state.

Speaking during an emergency security meeting in the Cross River State, Governor Ayade accused both the Ambazonia separatist fighters and the government of Cameroon of smuggling goods and arms through 27 illegal routes in Nigeria.

“Let me bring to the knowledge of the people of Cross River and indeed Nigerians that 80 percent of security issues we are dealing with is a as result of the war just by our borders,” Ben Ayade said.

There is an “influx of persons into Nigeria through over 27 illegal routes, who smuggle in goods of different kinds, sell them and use the money to acquire arms, recruit our young men and women and use them as machineries,” Governor Ayade added.

He appealed to the Nigerian government to assist Cross River State in confronting the security challenges facing Nigeria that came with the influx of Southern Cameroonian refugees.

“I will not hesitate to cry out that Cross River State has been left hanging and crying in this crisis. Aside from the humanitarian effort in addressing the issues in food security in the refugee camps and the communal skirmishes, the state has not received any special incentives knowing that a war at your backyard is a war in your house’.

Culled from Journal du Cameroun with additions by Sama Ernest