Nigeria/Cameroon border shut in Adamawa

Nigeria’s borders with the Republic of Cameroon in Adamawa State have been closed as part of measures to check the influx of miscreants into the country and enhance full implementation of the state of emergency imposed by President Goodluck Jonathan on the three North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The   Brigade Commander  of the 23rd Armour Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yola Brigadier General Rogers Iben Nicholas, confirmed  the closure. He stated that the decision to close the Adamawa border with Cameroon was informed by the need for full compliance to the state of emergency.

He said the borders were partially closed at the declaration of the emergency rule in the three states, but it became imperative to completely seal-up the borders against illegal movement in and out of the country.

His words: “The borders were really not so closed per say, it was a bit closed. Miscreants were coming in from the other country, So, I felt one of the best things to do was to totally close the borders.

“What I did was to completely seal up the borders, no going in, no going out. The  authority is on the strength of the state of emergency declared by the president.

“We decided to make the closure so effective and with that, we have been able to curtail the influx of miscreants, terrorist elements and other bad eggs moving in from the other country into Nigeria.

“We have passed adequate information to traditional rulers and the stations along the border areas. Other security agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service and Immigration Services have been told. Our soldiers and police are also there working together to ensure that nothing crosses into Nigeria through the borders.

“In Adamawa, there are many legal and illegal border routes between Nigeria and Cameroon, particularly in Ganye, Belel, Mubi, Madagali, Toungo as well as Maiha and other crossing points.”

In the same vein, the Adamawa State Commissioner of Border Integration, Alhaji Hamza Bello, said border communities had  been informed and enlightened on the closure, urging all Nigerian citizens along the borders to abide by the order. He also enjoined them to  understand the Nigeria’s situation and bear with the decision.

Bello stated that Nigerians and Cameroonians have always lived peacefully as they arebrothers and sisters with common background and ancestry. He asserted that the two countries would work together to resolve the security challenges.

FROM DAVID MOLOMO ,YOLA

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