Ambazonian Leader, Samuel Sako Accuses Cameroonian Govt of Taraba Killings

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

The leader of the interim government of the self-declared region of Ambazonia, Dr Samuel Ikome Sako has distanced his people from the attacks in the Manga Community of Takum Local Government area of Taraba State leading to the death of 11 persons including the local Chief of the community.

Dr. Sako, denounced the killings in a statement Saturday, while accusing the Cameroonian Government of perpetrating the attacks with plans to turn those communities against the Ambazonian people taking refuge in the Taraba State. 

He then urged the Nigerian government to carry out an extensive investigation so as to know the real perpetrators before making any decision.

“I am really in tears and so disheartened reading about these attacks in the Manga Community. As we learnt of the killing of the local Chief and some members of the community reported missing, we really sympathise with the community. On behalf of the people of Ambazonia, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the peace-loving people of Taraba State and all Nigerians,” said the leader of the internationally unrecognized proto-state of British Southern Cameroons.

Last Wednesday, Mr Joseph Manga, an aide to Taraba State Governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku, had disclosed that some gunmen arrived at the community around 5:30 am in speedboats with sophisticated weapons, shooting at residents on-site and burning down buildings.

Manga, who is also the brother to the slain chief, later quoted as saying “For now, we do not know those that came to attack but news filtered in saying that they are Ambazonian separatist soldiers from the Republic of Cameroon.”

However, Dr. Sako denounced this as he said there is no Ambazonian under his command has any reason to attack the people that have been so good and continue to be good to them.

“The Interim Government, by this statement categorically denies this allegation made against her and is informing the Nigerian authorities, the government of Nigeria, the people of Nigeria and the international community at large that, our Ambazonia Restoration Forces (whose main objective is to protect the vulnerable people of Ambazonia from the genocide being carried out by Mr Paul Biya’s military) are being framed up by French Cameroon aka The Republic of Cameroon.

“This is a devilish, demonic act by a wicked blood-thirsty regime that is desperate to have Nigeria on their side to annihilate the people of Southern Cameroon. I am urging the Nigerian press to help the Nigerian government to begin the investigation from the intelligence that I had shared with the Nigerian people so as to get to the truth of this matter. I urge the Nigerian Government to investigate this matter before they carry out any action.

“We believe the timing of this attack is another strategic move by the Yaounde regime of the Republic of Cameroon to discredit our cause to the international community. It is no coincidence that this atrocious attack is occurring during the maiden visit of the United States Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs, Mr Antony Blinken to Nigeria.

“I will like to remind everyone that this is the modus operandi of the genocidal government in Yaounde. Often times, they always carry out incursions across borders into Nigeria in search of the so-called Separatists. That has been the case in Cross River, and even in Taraba. But I want it to be clear that on the 10th of September, we had received intelligence from our insiders in the Yaounde regime that they are planning to disguise their security people as Ambazonians to attack civilians in some communities along the Southern Cameroon borders with Nigeria.

“Their plan was to turn these communities against our people maybe to get the Nigerian authorities and security forces on their side to annihilate our people. We did share this intelligence when I gave an interview to the Punch newspaper in September. That is almost two months ago. Unfortunately, the authorities did not take this serious, probably not believing that any neighbouring country can go to that extent,” Sako stated.

The Ambazonian leader also disclosed that just a few weeks ago, there was a report that in Taraba State, the same Cameroonian security forces —in mufti— crossed the borders into the Nigerian side in search of the so-called separatists while they tried to arrest their refugees.

“That’s what they do. And that was the same that happened this time. They have no respect for the territorial sovereignty of Nigeria. The Cameroon Government, they don’t. They think they can get into Nigeria to do whatever they want. Remember, in 2018, they crossed into Nigeria and arrested our leaders.

“The Cameroon security and military forces put on mufti mimicking Ambazonians. Thus I am urging the Nigerian authorities to carry out an extensive investigation so as to know the real perpetrators. We have raised this before about the Cameroon security forces disguising in civilian dresses to carry out this attack. They did this deliberately. It was planned so that they can impute the crime on Amazonians and then turned the Nigerian community that is housing our over 135,000 refugees for the past four five years.

“What do we have to gain in this act? To cross over and kill those including the Chief that is helping to host our people. How can we? Who gains in it? Except the person who wants us all killed and not want us to enjoy the little hospitality that ensure the survival of more than 125,000 of our people in Nigeria.

He welcomed the step taken by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba South, to report the attack to the Nigerian Senate where he called on the Nigerian government to do something as a matter of urgency to protect the Taraba community.

“As I applaud the distinguished Senator for that move, once more, we appreciate the hospitality of the people of Nigeria towards our refugees. We are also grateful to the Nigerian Press for sharing our story in the past few months. We hope they continue to do so, for the sake of truth and justice, especially at this time when the worst genocide so far in the 21st century, is being classified as the least covered by the international media,” Sako summed.