Protecting Nigerians’ Interests In Cameroon

Suleiman Abdullahi, 29, is a Nigerian resident in Garoua, northern Cameroon.

He migrated to Cameroon in December 2011, following attacks in his neighbourhood in Mubi, Adamawa, by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

“The experience was a sad one for me. Some of my friends and relations lost their lives, while properties worth thousands of naira were also destroyed during the attacks.’’

Desperate to look for a safe haven, Suleiman visited an uncle in Garoua and thereafter, decided to settle there. He started operating a commercial motorcycle in Garoua to eke out a living.

Mohammed Goni is another Nigerian living in Garoua. The man emigrated from Banki, a border town in Borno.

He said that he fled from Banki because of attacks by gunmen, also suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

“The assailants have been intimidating residents of Banki, always threatening to deal with us. They attacked our people coming back from the farm and market, killing and maiming some of them,’’ he said. “ I later fled to Garoua with my family for safety reasons.’’

Mr Ibeabuchi Ololo, the Chairman of Imo/Abia Association in Garoua, conceded that Nigerians had been migrating to Cameroon in droves, following the Boko Haram attacks.

“Nigerians come into Cameroon from Banki in Borno to Marwa in Cameroon. We receive them and offer them little assistance to enable them to settle down without problems.

“We, however, appeal to the Federal Government to do something urgent about the security challenges facing our country.

“The growing insecurity in northern parts of Nigeria has also affected our businesses and interests in northern Cameroon.

“For instance, virtually everything we use in Garoua comes from Yola, Maiduguri and Kano. These days, Nigerian and Cameroonian businessmen and women are afraid of coming to Nigeria to do business.

“In the past, goods from Nigeria sustained the local economies of northern Cameroon. Nowadays, business is no longer normal, as people are afraid of coming to Nigeria for business.

“The people here need goods from Nigeria to survive; we believe the Federal Government is equal to the task of tackling the rising menace of insecurity in Nigeria,’’ Ololo said.

Dr Samuel Ogoke, a Garoua-based medical doctor, also complained of dwindling business since the onset of the Boko Haram violence in Nigeria.

He said that apart from practising as a gynaecologist, he was also importing drugs and medical equipment from Nigeria.

“We have not been finding it easy since the Boko Haram attacks began. For us to enter Kano, Maiduguri or Yola to buy our goods, we weigh all options regarding our safety and security.

“This has made some of us to opt for going to Nigeria through Younde or Douala in the southern part of Cameroon, which is a longer journey.

“The journey from Garoua in northern Cameroon to Younde in the South takes three days by road or rail, except for those who can afford to travel by air,’’ he said.

Ogoke stressed that due to the serious security challenges facing Nigeria, Nigerians resident in Garoua were usually intimidated and harassed by the Cameroonian police and immigration officers.

He alleged that Nigerians living in the area were often subjected to spontaneous raids and interrogation by Cameroonian law-enforcement officers even if their papers were okay.

“Nigerians are now tired of the incessant harassment and we appeal to the Federal Government to set up a consular office in northern Cameroon to protect the interests of Nigerians there.

“Nigeria has consular offices in some parts of Cameroon and nobody dares to harass or intimidate our people there. The consular offices always protect the interests of Nigerians and ensure that they are not disturbed,’’ Ogoke said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Ibeabuchi noted that no Nigerian ambassador had visited Garoua in the past four years.

“We were surprised to hear that the last Nigerian ambassador to Cameroon was sent off some weeks ago. He did not even deem it fit to visit Garoua in the last four years; that is very unfair,’’ he said.

However, Abdullahi, the motorcycle operator, said that one comparative advantage he had was his ability to speak Fulfulde language, which was also the native language of Garoua people.

“It is interesting to know that the same Fulfulde language, spoken in Adamawa State in Nigeria, is same language that is spoken in Garoua.

“The language advantage and the little French I speak have made things quite easy for me here. Somehow, we have been surviving in Garoua.

“I am even planning to bring some of my relations to Garoua before the end of this year.

“More importantly, we appeal to the Federal Government to check the menace of insecurity in Nigeria.

“Attacks by the Boko Haram sect have been affecting the interests of Nigerians living in Cameroon. We also believe that if peace is restored to the troubled areas of Nigeria, citizens will no longer flee to Cameroon,’’ Abdullahi said.

Judging by the views of Nigerians resident in Cameroon, the Federal Government ought to open a consular office in northern Cameroon to protect the interests of Nigerians living there, while making determined efforts to tackle the security challenges facing Nigeria.

Mbonye writes for NAN

Mike Mbonye