Extradition of Cameroon Secessionists:

Understanding Nigeria’s sympathy with Cameroon

Cameroon and Nigeria are not just two friendly neighbours, they actually share one of the longest land and maritime borders of close to 2000Km. Besides, either side of their common border is populated with people of the same ethnic groups, which depend on each other for their respective socio-economic survival.

                Also, the need for the two neighbours to cooperate is not a matter of choice or friendship, but a matter of necessity and survival in realpolitik.

                While their level of cooperation may not have attained the full potential in some domains, it is however done so in matters of national and collective security.

                It should be recalled that when Major Odumegbwu-Okokwu proclaimed the break-away republic of Biafra in 1967, Cameroon, unlike its former colonial master, France, turned its back on Ojukwu and instead supported a One and United Nigeria that had General Yakubu Gowon as the military head of state.

                It should also be mentioned that while other French colonies like Gabon and Cote d’Ivoire endorsed and supported the breakaway Biafra Republic, Cameroon stood her grounds in defence of the unity of Nigeria.

                And because Biafra and Cameroon had a very contiguous land and sea border, Cameroon was the surest route through which Biafra could transit its military and other supplies. But President Ahidjo blocked this geo-strategic route, and the Biafran adventure was frustrated.   Conceeding defeat therefore, Ojukwu abdicated the Presidency of Biafra and escaped to exile in Cote d’Ivoire.              Needless to say that this gesture by Ahidjo, was a good turn that deserved another.

                Later, on 26 July 1972, Cameroon and Nigeria signed a Free Movement of Persons Act in Lagos, with a view to boosting cooperation in multiple domains.

                Then at the peak of the Bakassi dispute in the mid 1990s, both countries chose the path of law rather than war as a means towards settling their border dispute. The fact that both sides adhered to the judgment of the International Court of Justice ICJ, of 10 October 2002 and later the Green Tree Accord of 12 June 2006 was testimony to the fact that they both wanted to preserve and protect the security cooperation that they enjoyed.

                And this entente cordiale was also later manifested when the two countries federated their efforts towards annihilating the Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North of Cameroon and the North East of Nigeria.

                From the foregoing therefore, it is only easy for any one to comprehend Nigeria’s recent cooperation with Cameroon in the face of the crisis in Anglophone Cameroon. It is with the view to reciprocate the friendly and brotherly support that the western neighbour has also always received from Cameroon, whenever its territirial  integrity and security is threatened.

                And the Cameroon Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma, did not miss the point when he said in his 29 January 2018 statement announcing the extradition of the Cameroon secessionists from Nigeria that: “The Government of Cameroon commends the excellent multifaceted cooperation existing between Nigeria and Cameroon, particularly with regard to security.”

                There are over 1.5 million Cameroonians in Nigeria and over four million Nigerians in Cameroon.