By Horatius Egua,Special Correspondent, Online

Our correspondent was informed by top police and defence sources, however, that there would be no immediate physical withdrawal of the military from the disputed area; instead, only the handover of routine security duties in the territory to the Nigerian police will take place, for a start.

President Olusegun Obasanjo had, on June 12, signed an accord with his Camerounian counterpart, Paul Biya, in New York, formally ceding the long-disputed, oil-rich peninsula to Cameroun.

UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, hosted the talks at the UN headquarters, which followed a 2002 International Court of Justice ruling assigning the territory to Nigeria痴 eastern neighbour.

"Our agreement today is a great achievement in conflict prevention,・President Obasanjo had said on that occasion, adding, 的t should represent a model for the resolution of similar conflicts in Africa and in the world at large."

Spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Haz Iwendi, told our correspondent on Wednesday that the takeover of security in the area by the police was historic. He said the development was

田onsequent upon the directive of the Federal Government,・but that the police takeover would 澱e a gradual one from the Army.・

Two units of the paramilitary Mobile Police have been deployed in Bakassi, Iwendi revealed, 鍍o provide adequate security for the area and ensure that nobody comes in there to molest them [the residents] unduly.・

The Nigerian Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, had on Wednesday visited the Bakassi traditional ruler, and the Chairman of the Bakassi Local Government Council, to 殿ssure them of the readiness of the police to provide security for the citizens of the area,・Iwendi told our correspondent.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters・spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Felix Chukwuma, also confirmed to our correspondent on Wednesday that the police takeover of security in Bakassi was in compliance with the Federal Government痴 directive.

的t [the police takeover] is what is in the agreement [between Biya and Obasanjo]. If the military [eventually] move out completely, the police will [remain] there for a period of two years with our civil administrators,・Chukwuma said.

He added, 典he preparation for the [military] pullout is in progress, but you should understand that they [Nigerian troops] cannot pull out in one day. By the time they do so [completely], you will know. It is not a hidden thing.・

President Obasanjo had explained to Nigerians in a nationwide broadcast two weeks ago that in compliance with the October 10, 2002 ruling of the World Court, he had agreed with Mr. Biya that Nigerian soldiers stationed in Bakassi were to be withdrawn within the next 60 days, but that the two islands of Atabong and Abana, in the Western part of Bakassi Peninsula, would continue to be administered by Nigeria for two years after the troop withdrawal.

Some legal experts have argued, however, that Nigeria's decision to cede Bakassi to Cameroun will still need to be formally ratified under a complicated procedure stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution.

The PUNCH, Wednesday, June 28, 2006