Cross River State: Security threaten to shoot Cameroonian Refugees over speed brakes brawl
There was tension at the Ogoja refugee camp in Adagom 3, where thousands of Cameroonians are seeking refuge from the war in the South West and North West regions of their country.
According to information CNA obtained from several witnesses in the camp, on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, a Chinese worker using the Adagom settlement to reach his worksite, allegedly removed some speed brakes that were constructed to protect children from overspeeding vehicles.
“Those speed brakes are not found on the main road, they are found inside the settlement. We constructed them because of the children. So some Chinese men passed around with their Hilux. But suddenly we saw them coming back with a heavy-duty truck. They removed the brakes and threatened to kill anyone that opposes them. They also went to an area where children were learning, they brought it down. The Chinese then invited the Police who came and started flogging refugees and security guards.”
A refugee told CNA and feared not to be named.
Another witness, a humanitarian worker who has an NGO that empowers Refugees and is said to have participated in the construction of the speed brakes, Nfor Victor Nkeh, said the Chinese men called soldiers and encouraged them saying “Kill this person, and I will give you one million, Kill this person and I will give you one million…taking our pictures and showing the soldiers for execution,” he narrated.
“They took my picture alongside others and said they will kill us,” Nkeh told CNA.
As tension mounted, a soldier allegedly threatened to shoot anyone who dares them. One lady is said to have collapsed and admitted in a hospital. CNA cannot independently confirm that the soldiers were at the point of shooting but the videos and pictures from the scene show a tense atmosphere with booeing refugees and furious men in uniforms.
CNA also received pictures and videos where men in military uniforms are seen with guns and sticks removing the speed brakes.
It remains uncertain if the said speed brakes were not supposed to be constructed in the area, but the refugees have raised the fear of accidents, especially with heavy-duty trucks plying the area where children are vulnerable to accidents.
Threats to life in Cameroon and threats to life in a place they wish to be safe is a dangerous route for the refugees.
“They should better kill us, let them kill us,” voices are heard in a crowd where Refugees surround soldiers asking them to kill to shoot.
On Thursday, August 17, 2023, CNA reached out to the UNHCR in Nigeria via email, for comments.
