By CrossRiverWatch admin
Dr. Betta Edu, Director General, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), has promised to lend her voice both in the media and other avenues to source for support for the Bakassi Returnees whose lands and properties were ceded to neighboring Cameron.
She disclosed this when she paid a visit to the Bakassi Returnees camp, where she affirmed that the people are peaceful and not hostile as misrepresented by many who even call the returnees ‘militants’ in the political circle.
While addressing the returnees, she said her Agency will establish and monitor a free health care center at the camp and other displaced people’s camp in the State to reduce mortality rate.
“Few months back when we came to Bakassi for a town hall meeting to discuss about health, your elders requested that we create a health post at the IDP camps and monitor them. It looked like you have been forgotten.” She said.
After being conducted round, it was noticed that some returnees survive by renting their apartments to strangers while they sleep on balconies. One of them said: “They sleep by the corridors or balcony because they have rented their houses to people who can give them money to eat.”
Speaking to CrossRiverWatch the camp Coordinator, Mr. Bassey Asuquo, pointed out that the Ikot Effiom Bakassi camp is number one and the real camp.
He said that people have neglected the real camp whilst projecting Ikot Eyo, Akpabuyo Camp as being number one.
He emphasized that his camp, being the original camp, has administrative officers like the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) Office, Legislative Council Office, Office of the Paramount Ruler, Police Station, amongst others to proof the authenticity of his claim.
His Secretary, Mr. Linus Essien, expressed worry and fear about the visit saying the follow-up should be serious as different groups of people have been promising to tell the world about the real Bakassi story only to politicize it.
The camp leaders promised to always be peaceful as always and to continue to make their demands peacefully to avoid having troubles with the government.
The climax of the event was the distribution of mosquito nets, relief materials and free malaria test and treatment.