The Bakassi Strike Force (BSF) a militant group in the Niger Delta region on Tuesday expressed a desire to lay down arms to the Federal Government if the concerns of Bakassi returnees were addressed under a scheme midwife by international mediators.

A leader of BSF, Mr. Simply Benjamin a.k.a Humble Lion G1 in a telephone interview on Tuesday claimed that the grievances of the group had nothing to do with vandalism of national assets.

He said that it was regrettable that military authorities had killed several innocent people in the guise of trailing members of the militant group and in the process abused the human rights of the people resident in the area.

He urged the Federal Government to withdraw the military from his community as they were in the struggle for self determination and posed no threat to national security.

Benjamin, who spoke from his camp in the creeks of Southern Cross River State, said that unlike other militant groups, they have no record of destroying oil installations and were not involved in molesting innocent citizens.

He said that despite offering to work with the government to address the concerns of the Bakassi returnees, the military had been on his trail and disturbing residents near his camp.

Benjamin said that BSF has been agitating against the poor implementation of the Greentree Agreement after ceding Bakassi to Cameroon, thus leaving Nigerians residents in the Peninsular without proper resettlement.

He said that the group was ready to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue under a process to be brokered by the international community to ensure that the Nigerian returnees were properly resettled and rehabilitated.

According to Benjamin, “Our grievance against the Federal Government has to do with the way Nigeria ceded our ancestral land to Cameroon without recourse to the feelings and rights of the people to self determination.

“Under the Greentree Agreement there were steps to be taken to ensure that the fundamental rights of the returnees were protected but the government has not fulfilled its obligations under the agreement.

“We have not resorted to destroying national assets like other Niger Delta militants because it does not make sense, if we destroy assets that yield revenue, how will the Federal Government get money to fund the projects we yearn for?,” Benjamin asked.

Meanwhile, the Joint Military Force deployed to the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, said that it has degraded the capacity of the group and has intensified its operations to flush out members of the group.

The military had raided several camps and shrines used by the militants and discovered over 25 decomposing human skulls and killed no fewer than 15 suspected members of the armed group.

Lt. Col. Olaolu Daudu, Spokesman of the Joint Force, said in a statement that troops raided the BSF camp on October 29.

His words: “Troops of Sector 4 deployed at Efut Esighi in Southern Cross River State during anti militancy operation raided Efut Esighi forest and killed a notorious militant popularly known as Okon Iyo while he was trying to escape.

“Similarly, troops discovered the dead body of one of the Bakassi Strike Force militant who was earlier engaged in a gun battle in Efut Esighi but later escaped with gun shut injuries.

“His body was seen in a bush close to the main road in Effionsa, Bakassi Local Government Area. Meanwhile, troops also raided the compound of a suspected member of Bakassi Strike Force; Mr. Otobong Sunday Essien at Road 27 Resettlement Center Bakassi.

“A Motor Bike was recovered from his compound. In addition, troops intercepted a Passat wagon car owned by a suspected Bakassi Strike Force militant known as “G1”. He is the sentry Commander of the group.”

Daudu said that troops deployed at Ikang border while on patrol at Ikot Offing Ambai in Akpabuyo LGA in Cross River discovered militants’ shrine and also apprehended the Chief Priest of the group.

The JTF Spokesman assured law abiding members of the communities of their safety in the ongoing military crackdown on the militants.

•Photo shows the Bakassi Strike Force militants.

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