Nearly 20 years after Nigeria ceded the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon following a ruling by the International Court of Justice in 2002, thousands of displaced Nigerians—known as Bakassi Returnees—remain in dire conditions in Bayelsa State, still awaiting proper resettlement and reintegration.
Despite government promises at various levels, many of the displaced people, now living in makeshift camps around the Ekeki area of Yenagoa, continue to face appalling conditions. What was intended to be a temporary refuge has become a long-standing settlement defined by hardship, squalor, and uncertainty.
Most of the returnees are originally from Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa States. Children who were toddlers at the time of displacement are now teenagers and young adults, growing up in overcrowded wooden shacks roofed with rusted corrugated sheets. Sanitary facilities are virtually non-existent, with open defecation rampant and clean water scarce.
Esther Michael, one of the returnees, described the camp environment as a place “marked by hunger, filth, disease, and lack of education as well as health facilities.” Health officials were seen during a recent visit administering polio vaccines to children, but residents say these interventions are rare and insufficient.
Camp chairman Boboye Ofiou painted a bleak picture of the daily struggles faced by the community: “There is no government presence here. Our children cannot go to school. We are suffering.”
Ambassador Godknows Igali, Nigeria’s former Consul General during the period of the Bakassi handover, had previously called for financial allocations to Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa States to support displaced residents. His plea, however, was not acted upon.
Returnees like Godspower Obiriki continue to advocate for comprehensive resettlement. “We want to be reintegrated. We want our lives back,” he said.
The situation has recently worsened with reports that the land the returnees currently occupy has been sold, with the new owners allegedly issuing a one-month eviction notice. This looming deadline has triggered fresh anxiety within the camp.
Roseline Samuel, a mother and returnee, said, “We don’t know where to go next. We’ve been abandoned. We are Nigerians, and we deserve better.”
Another resident, Martina Alex, echoed the frustration as she washed clothes beside a wooden shack. “We are suffering. Government must see us.”
Amid the growing desperation, the Bakassi Returnees have sent a strong political message ahead of the next election cycle. With over 10,000 eligible voters in the camp, many say they will only support candidates who prioritize their resettlement and welfare.
Their voices remain united: after two decades of displacement, they are done waiting.
