Hon. Benni Lar, Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the International Boundary Dispute Between Nigeria and Cameroon, emphasized the importance of assessing the presence and effectiveness of security agencies along the border areas of the two nations.
This declaration came during an ongoing investigative hearing on the boundary disputes between Nigeria and Cameroon in Abuja on Tuesday.
The investigative hearing was initiated in response to grievances voiced by Nigerians residing along the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
They have been enduring hardships stemming from frequent incursions into Nigerian territory by terrorists and gendarmes from neighboring Cameroon, all due to disputed territories.
Chairman Lar underscored the significance of this hearing, highlighting that the contested communities belong to Nigeria, and their residents are Nigerian citizens.
It is imperative, therefore, to understand the roles played by paramilitary and military forces in safeguarding Nigerian citizens within the disputed area, in accordance with the rulings of the International Court of Justice regarding the contested territories.
Hon. Benni Lar, Chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee, stated
During the hearing, the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Adamu Adaji, attributed the disagreements over the disputed territories to a lack of understanding of international laws by members of the affected community.
However, his comments were met with criticism from the representatives of the aggrieved community, who perceived them as unpatriotic.
Adamu Adaji, DG of the National Boundary Commission, remarked:
Hon. Adamu Kamale, Representative of the Aggrieved Communities, responded:
“The comments and actions of the commission are unpatriotic.”
Members of the Committee expressed dissatisfaction with the responses from the commission and the Attorney General’s office. They proposed alternative means of resolving the dispute.
Hon. Kwamoti Laori, Committee Member, commented
“We are not satisfied with the response of the commission and the attorney general’s office. We suggest alternative means to resolving the dispute.”
The military and paramilitary representatives present at the hearing clarified that their primary role is to ensure the safety of staff and provide air cover for the Boundary Commission personnel who are responsible for marking pillars and placement projects in the disputed areas.
The agencies represented at the hearing included the Army, Air Force, Navy, NSCDC, Customs, Immigration, and the DSS. The Ad-Hoc Committee is expected to submit its report to the House for further legislative action.
