Agonizing stories of Bakassi communities where rampaging militants shoot, maltreat kids

Almost every day, children as young as five endure beatings, shootings, and various forms of abuse by armed militants at their makeshift, raffia-roofed homes. Over the past five months, there have been three reported incidents where children were shot, leading to the tragic death of two.

In one case, a daughter from the Ine Utang fishing settlement in the Dayspring community, Bakassi, was reportedly shot in the arm and is enduring excruciating pain due to the absence of medical facilities. In interviews, children revealed that the militants enforce compliance and do not tolerate hesitation in carrying out their orders.

One such child, Chris Akpan, who is barely ten years old, appeared worn-out with tattered clothes and sores on his body. Whether these injuries result from beatings by militants or infections remains uncertain. Chris, along with four others, came on holiday from Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State to visit their parents in the settlement, only to face constant harassment by armed militants.

These militants, armed with guns and knives, routinely seize the fish and crayfish caught by parents, along with extorting money and petrol for their boats. Children are forced to assist them in various tasks, and refusal can lead to physical harm or even death. Two children have already lost their lives due to such brutalities.

Ubong Etim, an eight-year-old, expressed the desire to attend school like other children but lamented the absence of educational facilities. The children of Ine Utang fishing settlement, totaling over 1500, lack access to health facilities, and in cases of serious ailments, they must use canoes or speed boats to travel nearly two hours to Calabar.

The settlement, comprising about 200 small raffia houses, suffered the burning of some huts a month ago, leaving affected families homeless and squatting. The lack of security, schools, and healthcare facilities places the community at the mercy of militant groups operating from the Bakassi creeks.

While there are territorial disputes involving Cameroon and Akwa Ibom State, the settlement is currently administered by Cross River State. The absence of government presence leaves the community vulnerable to attacks, and the elders plead for increased naval presence and surveillance to ensure security.

In response to the dire situation, the Nigerian Navy conducted a free medical outreach for over 200 inhabitants, acknowledging the pressing issues of militancy, hunger, and disease in the area. The commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship in the region emphasized the need for continued intervention to alleviate the suffering of the community.

A militant group, the Dragon Fighter Marine, claims control over the territory, asserting it as Biafran territory and prohibiting navigation and oil explorations. Recent clashes between this group and the Rapid d’intervention Battalions resulted in casualties, further endangering the rural population, especially children, who bear the brunt of criminal activities in the area.