Bakassi kidnappers disappointed to have captured Chinese

Seven Chinese nationals have been kidnapped from a trawler off the Bakassi peninsula of south-west Cameroon. The kidnappers seem disappointed with their captives, having hoped to capture Westerners and demand a large ransom.

The Nigerian flag is taken down from the Bakassi peninsula AFP

A group calling itself the Africa Marine Commando has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

Yaoundé correspondent Denis Nkwebo has been in touch with the kidnappers.

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He says they belong to the Bakassi Freedom Fighters, a group which opposes 2008’s Greentree agreement between Cameroon and Nigeria over control of the peninsula.

“I got in touch with one of the commanders of the Bakassi Freedom Fighters,” Nkwembo reports. “And he told me that his men went looking for people from the West, either French or Americans, but that, unfortunately, they only came across the Chinese who were actually operating on a fishing boat.”

The kidnappers have yet to state their demands, but it is likely that they will ask for money.

“One comment I had from these people is that it is unfortunate they captured Chinese because the people came from Asia they are not willing to pay the better price for ransom,” Nkwembo told RFI.

There has been a rise in kidnappings in the area because some groups lost a source of income when the Bakassi dispute was settled, he says.

“When Nigeria and Cameroon came to a peaceful settlement of the Bakassi crisis, these people were not happy with the deal that was sealed … They were used to trading arms and ammunitions in the area when there was still a conflict between Nigeria and Cameroon.”

The Chinese appear to have been fishermen who were not sailing out of an African port.

“Chinese authorities in Yaoundé, Cameroon, say they are not aware of the identity of the people who are kidnapped and these are people who probably came right away from China to work in the fishing boats at the Bakassi peninsula,” says Nkwembo.