Cameroon Army engage Biafra League militia in gun battle in Gulf of Guinea

The Army of Cameroon engaged the militia of the Biafra Nation League on Monday who occupied the sea route into Nigerian and Cameroonian territories from the Ocean, enforcing ban on vessels entering the Peninsula from the Gulf of Guinea. The militia of the Biafra Nation League were also engaging in other violent activities in the Gulf of Guinea before their confrontation with the soldiers from Cameroon on Monday.

Biafra Nation League militia were said to be operating at Akpa Nkanya in the Peninsula, enforcing the prohibition foreign vessels entering the Peninsula as directed by leader of the BNL in 2021.

The Biafra Nation League militia, sources said, engaged the Rapid d’intervention Battalion (BIR) from Cameroon in exchange of gunshots in the Peninsula in the early hours of Monday. The militia sustained the fireworks till about 11.00am when they decided to retreat.

The enforcement of the restriction order on foreign vessels in the Bakassi Peninsula  by the BNL had triggered tension in the ocean belt, compelling several oil companies to suspend  operations on Sunday for the safety of their workers on the expiration on January 23 of the ultimatum given by the leadership of the Biafra Nation League.

A top leader of the Biafra Nation League militia, Edem Joseph, had confirmed the exchange of gunshots between the militia and the Cameroonian army.

The Biafra Nation League militia on November 8, 2021 occupied border communities between Bakassi and Akpabuyo Local Government Area (LGA) in Nigeria, and hoisted the Biafran flag at the ‘Welcome To Bakassi’ entry point.  The Nigerian Army moved in on January 23 to clear the territory following the expiration of the 21 days ultimatum and the threat to foreign vessels entering the peninsula including other business interests.