The Senate on Thursday began an investigation into the attack by gendarmes from Cameroonian on a community in Cross River State, stating that it is the duty of the Federal Government to protect Nigerians and their property. The probe followed the adoption of a point of order raised by Senator John Enoh (Cross River-Central) on the “rising tension” between two Nigerian and Cameroonian communities.

No fewer than two persons were feared killed while six sustained gunshot injuries as Cameroonian gendarmes from Bodam community allegedly invaded their neighbouring Danare community in the Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State. The latest crisis, which started on Friday, was reportedly as a result of the alarm raised by residents of Danare that their Cameroonian neighbour had encroached on their farmland.

Enoh, said, “I rise to call attention to a very dire and serious situation in my senatorial district between a community called Danare in the Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State in Nigeria and another community in Cameroon.

“Sometime in the 7th National Assembly, there were rising tension around this particular area between the two countries, which led to the chiefs and even the people of those communities coming to the National Assembly, when there were disagreements about (ownership of) a particular location.

“As I speak, sometimes last week, I lost people – Nigerians – to that community because of the complete breakdown of peace and security due to the fight between the two communities.

“Now, this crisis is of international dimension and calls us as a country to question with the porous nature of our borders, especially on that particular axis. The main reason government exists is to protect its people’s lives and properties.

“I will like to use this to call on Nigerian authorities to increase security presence because there is rising tension in that part of the state and country.”

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, thanked Enoh for raising the issue. He said, “As we all know, it is our responsibility to make sure that adequate security is provided for our people and along the borders. I will like our two Chairmen (of Senate Committees) on Police Affairs and National Security to take this up and follow it up and let us know the progress being made.”

Source: Punch Nigeria