Baga fish retailers protest over ‘mismanagement of N3bn revenue’

The youth arm of the Baga market fish sellers and farmers association in Maiduguri, Borno state, is protesting against the marketers association.

The retailers allege that the marketers have mismanaged about N3bn in revenue and are demanding for accountability in the last two years.

They also allege that the leadership of the main association, headed by Abacha Mandalama, has not conducted an election in the last 24 years.

Bukar Abacha, leader of the youth group, stated that the union leaders remitted N100m out of the N3bn generated from them, to the state government.

“In the last two years, they have collected about N3bn revenue from fish sellers and transporters, but remitted only about N100m to the state government coffers,” he said.

“What did they do with the balance? Where did they take the balance to? We call on the government to investigate.

“There has also not been any election for new leadership of the association in the last 24 years.”

Abacha also alleged that the Mandalama-led leadership has turned the association into a family affair.

“If you agitate for election, they get you arrested. We want an election in three months,” he said.

Mandalama had debunked the allegations. According to him, the revenue being referred to belongs to the government.

“It’s not mine, neither is it the association’s. So, how easy would it be for us to commit such fraud and remit just a little to government coffers?” he said.

“By quoting figures, they (the protesters) are only indicting the government. Who revealed the figures to them? Me or the banks? Even if we remit the revenue, we don’t know the amount.”

On election matters, the chairman said: “For how long has Paul Biya ruled Cameroon? So, the protesters are only out to breach the peace. Nothing more”.