The Nigerian Government says the recent incidence that occurred in Kwaja community in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa State, North-central Nigeria was neither an invasion nor attack.
Director-General of the National Boundary Commission in Nigeria, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, gave the clarification in Abuja at a press briefing on the recent activities of the Commission.
Dismissing the accuracy of stories published on other media outlets on the situation between Cameroonian Security forces and indigenes of Kwaja community and their farmlands, Surveyor Adaji stated that there was no form of invasion as both Cameroon and Nigeria were neighbours with good relationship.
Demarcate the boundaries
The Director-General explained that the border community was termed a pending disagreement area, as a result, an attempt to place pillars to demarcate the boundaries led to a misunderstanding between both communities.
“It is surprising some people term what happened recently as invasion. It is not an invasion. The Cameroonian government would not for any reason want to invade Nigeria, the same way Nigeria cannot invade Cameroon. We relate very well with our neighbours. It is part of our policies to relate very well with our neighbours and Africa as a whole. So, the issue of invasion should not arise.”
“We are at the moment implementing the decision of the International Court of Justice. We are emplacing pillars to make the boundaries very definitive and recognisable. We have so far emplaced many pillars.”
“Recently, the United Nations awarded the contract for law 6 of the demarcation process. We had implemented laws 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and in the process of implementing law 6 and part of law 6 covers that segment- emplacing pillars. The issue of Kwaja is an isolated yet-to-be-resolved disagreement area. So, it was a mistake on the part of the team that went on ground to want to even attempt to emplace pillars. It was the attempt to emplace pillars that agitated the communities and they rioted. So, it wasn’t an invasion.”
“We are jointly trying to implement the decision of the International Court of Justice. We have an arrangement known as the Nigerian-Cameroon Mixed Commission under the auspices of the United Nations. In the process of carrying out the demarcation, both countries are represented.”
Now co-existing
Surveyor Adaji noted that though both affected communities have been sensitised, the demarcation has been suspended and both communities are now co-existing.
“The attempt to place the pillars has been corrected. The communities involved have been properly sensitised and enlightened and have accepted to cooperate since no work is going to be undertaken in that sector for now.”
The Boundary Commission boss said the case of Kwaja has been referred to an Independent expert, William Robinson, after which a report was submitted to the Cameroon-Nigerian Mixed Commission for careful considerations according to the ruling of the International Court of Justice, ICJ. He said the report needs to be accepted and discussed by the Mixed Commission.
Clarification
Speaking on the satisfaction of both countries on the ICJ’s ruling, surveyor Adaji noted that some of the boundary issues between both countries needed revisiting for clarification over the correct interpretation of the ruling of the Court over outstanding sectors.
“We have earmarked some activities to be taken. Some of which include visits to those areas to clarify- because the issues have been disagreement over the correct interpretation of the ruling of the International Court of Justice- some require more data for us to see how we can close ranks and agree.”
On the boundary issues between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, he said an agreement has been reached to get an international arbitrator to review the outlook of the Nigerian government and her counterpart, the Republic of Benin government in respect to the boundary differences and resolutions.
Surveyor Adaji added that dialogues, sensitisation and campaigns must be sustained for boundaries not to be seen as barriers between neighbouring countries and communities.
Lateefah Ibrahim
