The Ambazoninan fighters have threatened to end the lives of Jay Jay Okocha, and others if they accept Eto’s invitation to Cameroon.
According to these separatist group anyone who accepts the invitation from Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroonian Football Association, to participate in a ceremonial tournament on Thursday, November 30, 2023, in Victoria City, Cameroon, risk death.
According to a report by the Daily Post, the alert was sent via a voicemail that one Comrade Chris Anon, posing as the leader of the Ambazonia Interim Government situated in the United States of America.
To foster ties and the growth of football in Cameroon, Eto’o invited prominent international football players, especially those from Nigeria, to the competition.
The former captain of Nigeria’s national football team, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, along with Daniel Amokachi and other former Super Eagles players, received a warning from the Restoration Fighters of the Ambazonia Interim Government, who are fighting for the independence of Southwest Cameroon, not to accept Eto’o’s invitation.
They made it clear that if they disregarded the warning, their security wouldn’t be ensured.
The competition, according to Anon, was a mockery of the Ambazonian people.
On Thursday, November 30, 2023, the separatist organization issued an order for a complete lockdown of Victoria City and all of Fago County.
The organization issued a stay-in warning to the locals, emphasizing that disobeying the order would result in death.
Parts of the voice message stated, “The Restoration Fighters of Ambazonia Control Victoria and the entire county and are committed to ensuring the lockdown. Our determination to safeguard the integrity of Ambazonia’s independence struggle will not be deterred. We show no mercy for any persons who attempt to disregard the lockdown.
“It is essential to emphasize the severity of the situation and to caution against actions that could be misconstrued as aligning with any form of propaganda.
“The football match proposed by Samuel Eto’o is very controversial; it is a misguided and insensitive initiative.
“That decision to involve international players from Nigeria is deeply troubling.
“The timing and location of the tournament give rise to suspicions.
“We seriously and strongly caution Jay Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, and others who are promoting and preparing to participate in the tournament to reconsider their involvement as their participation may unintentionally result in bloodshed.
“We cannot help but question Samuel Eto’o’s decision to organize this tournament in Victoria, an Ambazonia territory that has been marred by war for over seven years, for which 30,000 Ambazonians have been killed.
“It raises legitimate concerns about potential exploitation of the situation for purposes that are not in the best interests of Victoria and Ambazonia in general.”