Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01ABUJA2036
2001-08-16 05:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA: ARMY MINISTER ON BAKASSI PENINSULA

Tags:  PREL MOPS CM NI 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002036 

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W BOOTH, AF/RA BITTRICK


E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X6
TAGS: PREL MOPS CM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ARMY MINISTER ON BAKASSI PENINSULA


REF: A. DIA IIR 7 800 0243 01

B. YAOUNDE 2643

C. YAOUNDE 2449

D. STATE 137098

E. ABUJA 1889


(U) Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter; Reasons 1.6X6.


C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002036

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W BOOTH, AF/RA BITTRICK


E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X6
TAGS: PREL MOPS CM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ARMY MINISTER ON BAKASSI PENINSULA


REF: A. DIA IIR 7 800 0243 01

B. YAOUNDE 2643

C. YAOUNDE 2449

D. STATE 137098

E. ABUJA 1889


(U) Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter; Reasons 1.6X6.



1. (C) After a meeting on security assistance at the Ministry
of Defense (septel),Ambassador had a private aside with the
Minister of State for Defense (Army),Lawal Batagarawa, on
the situation in the Bakassi Peninsula. Batagarawa stated
that other than changing the military command structure in
the area (Ref A),which he noted Nigeria was trying to do
without an appearance of aggression, Nigeria had no plans to
take military action against Cameroon. He explained that
Nigeria had no hostile intent, and no plans to take action
unless forced to respond to Cameroonian actions.



2. (C) The Ambassador asked about recent press reports of
exchanges of fire between Nigerian and Cameroonian forces
(Ref B). Batagarawa explained that occasionally Nigerian
fishermen inadvertently cross the nominal border, which can
cause tensions to rise. However, he claimed he had not heard
of any exchange of gunfire.



3. (C) The Ambassador noted that the Embassy in Cameroon had
briefed the GOC on OFR, and had provided the coordinates for
training, so as to avoid misunderstandings (Ref C). The
Minister thanked the Ambassador, and expressed his approval
of this action.



4. (C) COMMENT: We don't believe that Batagarawa was being
entirely forthcoming. Despite what could become a very
serious situation in the Bakassi Peninsula, the GON has
downplayed the tensions there. Other than some references in
the press to the Bakassi Peninsula, we have heard almost
nothing from our GON interlocutors. It is possible that the
Nigerian military is using the disagreement over the Bakassi
Peninsula as a ruse to argue for additional resources.
However, MG Ogomudia's remarks and body language during the
recent OFR 3rd Group Battalion Commander's briefing (Ref E)
lead us to believe that the level of concern within the GON
may indeed be very high.
Jeter