“Stay Away” — Separatist group warns Okocha, Amokachi

Cameroon separatist group, Ambazonia have sounded a warning to former Super Eagles legends, Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Daniel Amokachi from visiting the country.

In a recent development concerning the proposed ceremonial football tournament in Victoria City, Cameroon, a warning issued by the Ambazonia Interim Government’s Restoration Fighters has sparked international attention and concerns.

The Ambazonian separatist group, entrenched in a long-standing armed conflict with the Cameroonian military as part of the Anglophone Crisis since 2017, voiced strong objections to the participation of former Nigerian football luminaries, notably Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Daniel Amokachi, in the tournament orchestrated by Samuel Eto’o, President of the Cameroonian Football Association.

Comrade Chris Anon, purportedly leading the Ambazonia Interim Government from the United States, conveyed a stern warning on Sunday, November 26, cautioning the invited players about the potential risks to their lives should they attend the event.

Anon underscored the separatists’ commitment to enforcing a complete lockdown in Victoria City and Fako County on the specified date, urging civilians to remain indoors under threat of severe consequences for any violation of the order.

The separatist group vehemently denounced the tournament as a disregard for the plight of the Ambazonian people, labeling it as a misguided and insensitive initiative, particularly given the ongoing conflict in the region. They raised suspicions about the intentions behind organizing an international event in a territory embroiled in a seven-year-long war that has claimed the lives of 30,000 Ambazonians.

Expressing concerns about the potential exploitation of the situation, the group called on the former Nigerian football stars to reconsider their involvement, emphasizing the unintentional risks of their participation contributing to further conflict and bloodshed in the troubled region.

The situation has raised diplomatic and sporting concerns between Cameroon and Nigeria, shedding light on the complexities surrounding the proposed tournament and its implications in a region fraught with conflict and separatist aspirations.

Amidst the warnings and objections voiced by the Ambazonian separatists, the fate of the ceremonial tournament and the participation of the former Nigerian football icons remains uncertain, prompting deliberations on the broader implications for diplomatic relations and the delicate socio-political landscape of the region.