Refugees currently cooling off in Ussa and Kurmi local government area of Taraba state
According to Vanguard, no less than 4000 refugees from Southern
Cameroon have invaded border communities in Kurmi and Ussa local
government areas of Taraba state.
The refugees mostly women and Children fled their home country
following escalation of hostilities between the Francophone and
Anglophone communities, over agitation for the independence of Southern
Cameroon.
Vanguard who visited the two LGAs discovered host communities are
groaning due to increasing numbers of refugees, thus paving way for a
possible humanitarian crises in the area.
Speaking to Vanguard, one of the refugee, Polycarp Ande who fled
from Furawa Sub-division into Fikyu village alleged that Cameroonian
soldiers led the ethnic cleansing of their people.
According to him, hunger, elusive health care, lack of shelter and
idleness were major challenges, which he noted has in turn had ripple
effect on their host community, who are predominantly low scale farmers.
He explained that the villagers and churches has been feeding them,
and expressed worry over their increasing numbers amidst meagre
resources.
“Some of our brothers who went back to see how the situation
was in our villages keep running back as the onslaught is still going
on.
” As at last Saturday, over 15 of our people came into Kpambo-piri in Ussa and more people keep coming into Nigeria every week.
“Our children are the most affected because they can’t go to
school and we want the government of Nigeria and the world to come to
our aid.”
Village head of Mubi-Toso, Yakubu Akama and his counterpart in
Fikyu village, Ukwe Ezra in their seperate submission expressed concern
over possible invasion of their terrain by the attackers.
The duo further appealed to the federal government for adequate
security and provision of relief materials to salvage the plight of the
refugees.
The Chairman of Ussa local government area, Rimamsikwe Hassan on
his part lamented that the massive influx of Camerounians into some
communities in the council is overwhelming.
He said “the refugees have moved into Kpambo- piri, Jatau,
Kanpiya and Fikyu village, with Fikyu having the least number of 250
refugees including children as at last count.
According to him, “when they (refugees) first moved in, the Red
cross visited some of the villages to take statistics and promised to
come back, but ever since they have not returned.
“We have equally written to the National Refugees Commission but yet to get a reply from them.
“However, the state government through SEMA brought relief
materials for the victims, but we also want the Federal government to
come in and liaise with the Camerounian authorities.”