Cameroonian refugees flood Cross River communities, beg for food, shelter

About 2,000 Cameroonian refugees, running away from Ambazonian militants, have landed in Cross River border communities, begging for shelter and food.

A source from one of the communities, Bashu, in Boki Council said they had been receiving refugees since the Sunday attacks on Southern Cameroon.

Recall that Ambazonian militants at the borderline communities allegedly killed no fewer than 27 persons on Sunday and Monday, especially Obonyi in Cameroun near Boki in Cross River for refusing to fight along with Ambazonian rebels in Southwest Cameroon.
 
Also, a youth leader in Bashu, Augustine Ogar, told newsmen the refugees were begging for food and places to sleep. He called on stakeholders and agencies to come to the aid of the people.

He said: “Yes, feeding now is very challenging for the Cameroonians. Bashu communities are giving their own little support but it cannot go around for such a large population. We have contacted Red Cross and security agencies. We call on international agencies to help us out. 

“There is a humanitarian crisis in Bashu now owing to the presence of these refugees.”

Ogar also disclosed that the locals in Bashu and nearby communities in Abo clan of Boki are now afraid, following threats from Ambazonian militants for providing shelters for fleeing Cameroonians.

He said the militants had threatened their farmers who have farms near Obonyi community in Cameroun.
 
“Currently, Bashu, a Nigerian border community, can no longer go to their farms because of the many threats by the Ambazonian militants for hosting Camerounian refugees.

“Presently, three Cameroun communities are taking refuge in Bashu. The current refugees population in Bashu, by our estimation, is more than 2000.” Ogar said.