Main PageCameroonian Soldiers Chase Nigerians Out Of Bakassi (Photo)
The Cameroonian military has begun cracking
down on Nigerians in the Bakassi peninsula
suspected of evading taxes.
Cameroon gained total control of the peninsula in
August 2013, but most inhabitants in the oil-rich
area are Nigerians
"We don't understand Cameroon's tax laws," a
provisions store owner, Stanley Obi, told the
Hausa service of the Voice of America (VOA),
adding that he has seen an array of people seeking
payments.
"At times, you see the council come to collect
theirs. After, the tax officers will come, police will
come; we are just confused with the whole
system," Obi said.
Obi also said a curfew was imposed on the
peninsula last week following disputes between
businessmen and groups of tax collectors.
Fresh fish retailer, Na Eric, said that ever since
Cameroon gained sovereignty over the peninsula,
Nigerians in Bakassi have frequently been
harassed by Cameroonian soldiers.
"It is a means of killing our businesses," he said.
The governor of the southwest region in which
Bokassi is located, Bernard Okalia Bilai, confirmed
that his administration had imposed a night
curfew in the area, saying the decision is to halt
people coming from Nigeria's Cross River State
following a meeting held at which peninsula
residents complained that others were
disrespecting maritime borders, attacking the
locals and refusing to pay taxes.
"Nigerians must understand that Bakassi is now a
Cameroonian territory and whoever lives there
must submit to all national rules and regulations,
including paying taxes," the governor said.
Immediately after the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) ruling, tax collection in Bakassi was
suspended, but as of mid-August 2013, residents
had to start paying their share.
The governor accused Nigerians of disrespecting
the ICJ ruling's terms by refusing to pay taxes.
In 2002, the ICJ ruling had awarded control of the
disputed Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, and
Nigeria eventually decided not to appeal the
ruling, sparking protests from many Bakassi
residents. And other Nigerians.
In 2008, the ICJ gave Nigeria five years to
transition and cede control. As of August 2013,
Nigerians – who constitute 90 percent of the
peninsula's population – had to obtain residence
permits and be treated as foreign nationals.
Those who decided to become Cameroonians had
to acquire national identity cards and respect
Cameroon laws
The United Nations-backed Green Tree Agreement
of 2006 set terms of the handover and one of the
articles states that there shall be no indiscriminate
collection of taxes within the Bakassi peninsula.
Meanwhile, efforts by LEADERSHIP to get the
Cameroon Embassy in Abuja to comment on the
issue were fruitless as officials of the Commission
failed to reply to the e-mail sent to the
Commission's official e-mail address,
info@cameroonhighcomabuja.com.
Credit:www.leadership.ng/news/398316/
cameroonian-soldiers-chase-nigerians-bakassi
down on Nigerians in the Bakassi peninsula
suspected of evading taxes.
Cameroon gained total control of the peninsula in
August 2013, but most inhabitants in the oil-rich
area are Nigerians
"We don't understand Cameroon's tax laws," a
provisions store owner, Stanley Obi, told the
Hausa service of the Voice of America (VOA),
adding that he has seen an array of people seeking
payments.
"At times, you see the council come to collect
theirs. After, the tax officers will come, police will
come; we are just confused with the whole
system," Obi said.
Obi also said a curfew was imposed on the
peninsula last week following disputes between
businessmen and groups of tax collectors.
Fresh fish retailer, Na Eric, said that ever since
Cameroon gained sovereignty over the peninsula,
Nigerians in Bakassi have frequently been
harassed by Cameroonian soldiers.
"It is a means of killing our businesses," he said.
The governor of the southwest region in which
Bokassi is located, Bernard Okalia Bilai, confirmed
that his administration had imposed a night
curfew in the area, saying the decision is to halt
people coming from Nigeria's Cross River State
following a meeting held at which peninsula
residents complained that others were
disrespecting maritime borders, attacking the
locals and refusing to pay taxes.
"Nigerians must understand that Bakassi is now a
Cameroonian territory and whoever lives there
must submit to all national rules and regulations,
including paying taxes," the governor said.
Immediately after the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) ruling, tax collection in Bakassi was
suspended, but as of mid-August 2013, residents
had to start paying their share.
The governor accused Nigerians of disrespecting
the ICJ ruling's terms by refusing to pay taxes.
In 2002, the ICJ ruling had awarded control of the
disputed Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, and
Nigeria eventually decided not to appeal the
ruling, sparking protests from many Bakassi
residents. And other Nigerians.
In 2008, the ICJ gave Nigeria five years to
transition and cede control. As of August 2013,
Nigerians – who constitute 90 percent of the
peninsula's population – had to obtain residence
permits and be treated as foreign nationals.
Those who decided to become Cameroonians had
to acquire national identity cards and respect
Cameroon laws
The United Nations-backed Green Tree Agreement
of 2006 set terms of the handover and one of the
articles states that there shall be no indiscriminate
collection of taxes within the Bakassi peninsula.
Meanwhile, efforts by LEADERSHIP to get the
Cameroon Embassy in Abuja to comment on the
issue were fruitless as officials of the Commission
failed to reply to the e-mail sent to the
Commission's official e-mail address,
info@cameroonhighcomabuja.com.
Credit:www.leadership.ng/news/398316/
cameroonian-soldiers-chase-nigerians-bakassi
Thanks For You Reading The Post
We are very happy for you to come to our site. Our Website Domain name
http://gurusfanz.blogspot.com/.
Newer Posts
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Older Posts
Comments