Editing Bakassi (section)

===ICJ verdict===
The ICJ delivered its judgment on 10 October 2002, finding (based principally on the Anglo-German agreements) that sovereignty over Bakassi did indeed rest with Cameroon. It instructed Nigeria to transfer possession of the peninsula, but did not require the inhabitants to move or to change their nationality. Cameroon was thus given a substantial Nigerian population and was required to protect their rights, infrastructure and welfare.<ref>Mike Chinedu Anekwe, [http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2002/dec/273.html "ICJ ruling on Bakassi: Matters arising"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527134600/http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2002/dec/273.html |date=27 May 2011 }}, ''Nigeria World'', 27 December 2002</ref>

The verdict caused consternation in Nigeria. It aroused vitriolic comments from Nigerian officials and the Nigerian media alike. Chief [[Richard Akinjide]], a former Nigerian Attorney-General and Minister of Justice who had been a leading member of Nigeria's legal team, described the decision as "50% international law and 50% international politics", "blatantly biased and unfair", "a total disaster", and a "complete fraud". The Nigerian newspaper ''[[The Guardian (Nigeria)|The Guardian]]'' went further, declaring that the judgment was "a rape and unforeseen potential international conspiracy against Nigerian territorial integrity and sovereignty" and "part of a Western ploy to foment and perpetuate trouble in Africa". The outcome of the controversy was a ''de facto'' Nigerian refusal to withdraw its troops from Bakassi and transfer sovereignty. The Nigerian government did not, however, openly reject the judgment but instead called for an agreement that would provide "peace with honour, with the interest and welfare of our people".<ref>{{cite web | title=Bakassi Threatens to Declare Own Republic | website=This Day Online | date=13 August 2009 | url=http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2002/10/30/20021030news03.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813003633/http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2002/10/30/20021030news03.html | archive-date=13 August 2009 | url-status=dead | access-date=9 October 2021}}</ref>

The ICJ judgement was backed up by the [[United Nations]], whose charter potentially allowed sanctions or even the use of force to enforce the court's ruling. [[Secretary-General]] [[Kofi Annan]] stepped in as a mediator and chaired a tripartite summit with the two countries' presidents on 15 November 2002, which established a commission to facilitate the peaceful implementation of the ICJ's judgement. A further summit was held on 31 January 2004. This made significant progress, but the process was complicated by the opposition of Bakassi's inhabitants to being transferred to Cameroon.<ref>Gilbert da Costa, [http://www.wwenglish.com/en/voa/stan/2006/08/2006080813544.htm "Bakassi Region Residents Protest Handover of Region to Cameroon"],<!--from title element--> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724181601/http://www.wwenglish.com/en/voa/stan/2006/08/2006080813544.htm|date=24 July 2011}}, ''VOA'', 8 August 2006</ref>

[[File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of Bakassi.svg|thumb|Flag used by Bakassian separatists]]
Bakassian leaders threatened to seek independence if Nigeria renounced sovereignty. This secession was announced on 9 July 2006, as the "Democratic Republic of Bakassi". The decision was reportedly made at a meeting on 2 July 2006 and [[Vanguard (Nigeria)|''The Vanguard'']] newspaper of Nigeria reported the decision to secede. The decision was reportedly made by groups of militants including [[Southern Cameroons]] under the aegis of Southern Cameroons Peoples Organisation (SCAPO), [[Bakassi Movement for Self-Determination]] (BAMOSD), and the [[Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta]] (MEND).
<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.postnewsline.com/2008/07/rebels-declare.html | title=Rebels Declare 'Independence' of Bakassi | access-date=18 January 2009 | archive-date=17 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517130244/https://www.postnewsline.com/2008/07/rebels-declare.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The Biafra separatist group, Biafra Nations League (BNL), initially known as Biafra Nations Youth League, led by Princewill Chimezie Richard (known as Prince Obuka) and Ebuta Akor Takon (not the former Deputy, Ebuta Ogar Takon) moved their operational base to the peninsula, after series of warnings to the Nigeria government over the plight of the internally displaced natives and the reported killing of remnants in the peninsula by Cameroon forces. This came amid clashes between Nigerian troops and the Bakassi Strike Force, a militant group that focused on attacking Nigerian and Cameroon forces. BNL Leaders were later apprehended in the Ikang-Cameroon border area on 9 November 2016 by Nigerian troops according to the ''Nigeria nation'' newspaper; reports linked the Biafra group to the militant groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://saharareporters.com/2016/11/09/troops-clash-militants-pirates-niger-delta|title=Troops Clash With Militants, Pirates in Niger Delta |work=Sahara Reporters|date=9 November 2016|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106005059/http://saharareporters.com/2016/11/09/troops-clash-militants-pirates-niger-delta|url-status=live}}</ref>
BNL demanded that oil companies authorized to drill for oil by Nigeria and Cameroon leave the maritime boundary area of Bakassi Peninsula. The group also threatened to attack Cameroon Forces.