•We never seized any local govt area
•We are neither kidnappers nor saints

By Ike Uchechukwu

BAKASSI- THE  Bakassi Strike Force, BSF, a militant group reported to have taken over Bakassi and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas in Cross- River State have denied the allegation, saying that the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, was being misled by his aides. Leader of the militant group, also known as Humble Marine Force, comprising agitators from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, self-styled Gen Simply Benjamin, told Niger Delta Voice at their den in the creeks of the state: “It is unfortunate that Governor Ben Ayade is accusing us falsely.

Governor Ben Ayade

However, in one way, we cannot blame him because he has not been on ground to ascertain the security situation in the state, especially in Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas.  It is also unfortunate that his aides are misleading him on security situation in the state.
“We would like to use this medium to state clearly that we are not enemies of Ayade, therefore, he should not seek to make us one. Since the inception of his Deep Seaport project, we have fully cooperated and assisted all the contractors and officials, who have come to carry out the project, he should find out our role,” the group said.
  Peace in Akpabuyo, Bakassi
At Akpabuyo and Bakassi, our reporter observed that the two local government areas were calm despite reports that militants had overrun them. The people went about their business. Although the contact person did not give NDV reporter and a colleague any specific location, there was trepidation as they walked along a particular footpath that he mentioned when they arrived Akpabuyo, when from nowhere, fierce-looking men armed with machine guns emerged and started interrogating them.
Hello, I’m General Simply. They shepherded them to a man, who identified himself as their leader by name Gen Simply Benjamin.  He looked unassuming and harmless, but a violent aura exuded from him.
“The person on my left is the General Commander, Operations, Isaac Romeo, he handles everything that has to do with operations,” he bellowed before he embarked on a libation ritual with a bottle of local gin. Gen Simply, offered the bewildered reporters gin before the session with him started.
Constantly assuring the apprehensive reporters of their safety, Gen Simply surrounded by fighters brandishing sophisticated weapons, said BSF has eight barracks in both Akwa Ibom and Cross River states with its activities spreading to other states of the region.
He was quick to say that the group was not holding any community or local government to ransom, adding: “As as you can see, the two local government areas are very peaceful.  Today, several market women have gone to the markets. The youths are going about their daily activities.  Shops have opened. People are trading. There is no sign of terror or distress within the areas.  It is quite unfortunate that such news could be published in the news media without verification.
Why we carry weapons
“The whole essence of bearing arms is to protect our people and to fight for their rights.  Therefore, it would be completely insane to turn around and fight the same people who we are protecting. We advise that,    henceforth,  when news of insecurity within the region surfaces, the media should carry out a thorough investigation to confirm its authenticity before stirring unnecessary panic in the public.
“We are willing to work with government at all levels. We do not want to be misconstrued.  Hence, we have desisted from sabotage and destruction of lives and properties. We do not want to be called saboteurs,” he said.
On their struggle, he maintained that fight back was for self-determination and liberation of our people, pointing out: “We have been short-changed by the federal government.  This is why youths of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states have come together under aegis of Bakassi Strike Force with eight barracks across the two states, in order to make our voices be heard by the federal government.”
We’re neither kidnappers nor saints
Commenting on the kidnap of Macmahon staff and other expatriates, he said:”There has never been any reported case of kidnap or harassment of any contractor or official that came to handle projects in our domain or local government. This we did to ensure and prove to the governor that we are civilized people, and also to show our unflinching support to his administration.