Cameroonian Opposition Leader Flies Secretly to Nigeria

SadaNews - Prominent Cameroonian opposition figure, Isa Chiruma Bkari, has secretly fled to Nigeria, in a surprising move that came after weeks of the presidential elections where President Paul Biya declared his victory for an eighth term amidst widespread rejection from the opposition and allegations of fraud, according to various sources.

Chiruma, whose home in the northern city of Garoua was under tight security surveillance, managed to escape Cameroon at night via the Benue River, taking advantage of the weak monitoring on this waterway that connects Garoua with the Nigerian city of Yola.

According to Nigerian security sources, Chiruma is currently under semi-surveillance in Adamawa state, where intelligence agencies are closely monitoring his movements, without any legal action having been taken against him so far.

Chiruma, the former Minister of Information, had declared his victory in the presidential elections held three weeks ago, accusing the Constitutional Council of "institutional fraud" in favor of President Biya.

His escape coincided with a surge in the crackdown against opponents, as lawyer Michelle Ndouki and human rights activist Felix Agbor Bala fled the country amidst arrests and campaigns that targeted dozens of activists.

Possibility of Extradition

Isa Chiruma Bkari has maintained strong relations with influential figures in Nigeria's Adamawa state, allowing him to secure an alternative refuge outside of Cameroon to avoid arrest.

This network of relationships provided him with the political and social cover that helped him leave the country at a highly sensitive time.

Despite the absence of an official extradition agreement between Cameroon and Nigeria, the precedent of extraditing separatist leaders in 2018 remains present in the minds of decision-makers in Yaoundé, fueling the possibility of reaching a special understanding with Abuja, especially if Chiruma's presence is deemed a threat to regional stability.

Cameroonian authorities are relying on Nigerian cooperation to ensure monitoring of Chiruma's movements and limit his political activity, viewing this as an indirect means of containing him without the need for legal or diplomatic escalation.

In this context, Yaoundé is contemplating the option of submitting an official extradition request, even though this is fraught with legal and political complications.

Within the Cameroonian government, positions vary; while Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji pressures for his judicial pursuit, others believe that his remaining in Nigeria, close to the border, remains a less costly option, as he could be politically isolated without provoking international reactions.

A security source in Yaoundé described his presence in Nigeria as "the lesser evil", noting that his influence will remain limited under Nigerian surveillance, which will not allow him to move freely.

A diplomatic source stated that the absence of an extradition agreement does not mean immunity, as Abuja could arrest him on local charges and strike a special agreement with Cameroon, as part of what he described as "political understandings more than legal ones".

Chiruma, for his part, is aware of the sensitivity of his situation and avoids any escalation that could embarrass him before the Nigerian authorities.

However, reports indicate that he continues from his exile to coordinate the "ghost cities" campaign, aimed at paralyzing economic activity in Cameroon in protest against the announcement of President Paul Biya's victory.

The escape of the Cameroonian opposition leader reveals security gaps in the north despite the imposed blockade, reflecting a rise in opposition and the growing political crackdown amid an escalating legitimacy crisis in the country, while his presence in Nigeria opens the door for internationalizing the crisis, especially if he decides to move publicly or diplomatically from abroad.