Gunmen are reported to have stripped life off a Sub Inspector of Police when the latter tried to stop them from robbing a shop owner at Way out Nkwen Park in the Bamenda III sub-division of the North West region of Cameroon Thursday August 09.
For attempting to prevent gunmen from robbing a provision store in Nkwen, a police officer paid the ultimate sacrifice last night. The victim Agence Cameroun Presse got the name as Garba was passing by dressed in civilian attire when he noticed an uncommon scene.
Armed men were pointing a gun at a storekeeper, ordering the latter to empty his coffers into a bag. Without thinking twice, the physically built Garba (as his picture implies) went closer to the scene and grabbed one of the robbers.
Unfortunately, for him, another robber who had taken cover not far from the store took him unaware with several gunshots from behind, leaving Garba dead on the spot.
The shots created panic in the Nkwen market area leavingas many ran for their dear lives. Some others returned to the market later on only to find out what happened.
Ever since the Anglophone crisis went violent, lootings have been very common in some villages in the two affected regions. In the course of this, shop owners are either wounded or killed for those who attempt to resist.
Ariane Foguem
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church Cameroon, PCC, the Rt Rev. Samuel Fonki Forba has appealed to God to reward Ambazonia fighters in Bali accordingly to the "disgrace" brought to the Church by banning its activities in that part of the country.
“Enough is enough! We don’t have to pamper anybody at this time” That was the phrase used by the PCC Moderator while concluding his discourse Sunday September 05 in reaction to separatist fighters’ ban on activities of the Church in Bali Nyonga, Mezam Division of the North West region of Cameroon.
The PCC boss who appeared calm at the beginning of his declaration became fast adopted a serious tone while expressing discontentment with the order of things in the Anglophone regions and more precisely the current fate of the PCC in Bali.
“If the Gospel in the land of Bali cannot be preached by the PCC, we can move out of Bali quietly and let the other churches continue to grow the Church of God and to nurture the people of Bali. We should not be discouraged. Christianity has not been wiped out of Bali, just the PC that has been stooped…” Rev. Samuel Fonki Forba told his PC Christians.
If he is okay with moving out of Bali reported to have been the headquarters of the Basel Mission in Cameroon, whose departure led to the birth of the Presbyterian Church Cameroon, the Rt Rev. Samuel Fonki Forba is far from having swallowed the bitter pill of the disgrace brought about by the ban on the Church activities. The man of God has appealed to God to leave room for his wrath to befall the separatists behind the ban.
“The disgrace the Bali boys have brought to this Church; I leave them all to God because vengeance is the Lord’s…” He said with a stern tone and a loud voice that belied his usual caring appearance.
As to what could possibly lead to a way out of the Anglophone crisis that is at the origin of the problem, the Moderator of the PCC has for the umpteenth time appealed for a ceasefire.
“There should be a ceasefire in this country as far as this problem is concerned. The Government of Cameroon thought that in a few days they would crush Anglophone Cameroon and stop the crisis. We are getting to the fifth year. The barrel of a gun will not solve this problem until we sit down as a family and sort out our problem we will not solve this problem…”
The Anglophone crisis, which started as a street protest by teachers’ trade unions and lawyers associations, will enter the fifth year this November. Hostilities between Government forces and separatists have led to thousands of deaths and chased hundreds of thousands away from their comfort zone.
Ariane Foguem
Separatist fighters in Bali Nyonga, a locality in the North West region of Cameroon, hard-hit by the Anglophone crisis have placed a ban on the activities of the Presbyterian Church Cameroon (PCC) in that part of the country after accusing the Moderator, the Rt Rev. Samuel Fonki Forba of failing to indict Governmen forces for the deadly attack at the PCC Ntanfuang on August 22 that left Rev. Voma Simon Montoh injured and Grace Titalabit death. They have asked for the Moderator and pastor Montoh's resignation.
Activities of the PCC Bali have been on a standstill for days following a restriction placed by separatist fighters.
In an audio circulating on social media, a representative of self-styled Ambazonia General Grand Pa said the Rt Rev. and the pastor of PCC Ntanfoang betrayed the mission of the church, that is to uphold the virtues of justice and truth at all times, by refusing to decline the identities of those respeonsible for the attack on the house of God. According to them, just like some Christians indicated, the military is responsible and the Church ought to have pointed that out.
“The PCC Moderator lied that he doesn’t know who killed Ma Grace Numvi. The pastor, Rev. Voma Simon Montoh who was shot in the arm says he too is not in the know as to who shot him and Grace. Christians say, the know those behind the shootings and that, it was the Cameroon military,” the voice said.
“The church is supposed to be the epitome of Justice and Truth but has been proven otherwise by the leaders who have resorted to lies telling. Because of this, we have decided to ban the activities of the Presbyterian Church in Bali until the Moderator and Pastor Numvi Simon resign. Christians can go to other churches, not the PCC.” It added.
Reacting to the ban, the PCC Moderator, Rt Rev. Samuel Fonki Forba said the Church would not report anything contrary until a clear report of an investigation into the attack is made available.
He added that the doors of the Churches in Bali would remain closed and asked PCC Christians to worship in sister churches, to the greatest surprise of some who took to social media to condemn the “coward decision”, quoting bible verses.
“PCC Bali Nyonga shouldn’t be such a weakling, bowing to terrorist threats. Cowards won’t make Heaven – Rev 21: 8” “by succumbing to terrorist threats, the PCC Moderator has denied Jesus 3 times before the cock crowed” “Jesus said in Matthew 16: 18 that even the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church. Why is the PCC afraid of ambazonia” Frankline Njume, popular Anglophone web influencer posted on Facebook.
Nonetheless, this view is not shared by all as others have indicated that respecting the decision of separatist fighters is much better than having Christians killed in the course of attacks.
Ariane Foguem
About 38 persons including a Pastor and a young woman have been arrested by the police in Kumba, Meme Division of the South West region of Cameroon for smoking illegal substances.
The story is still on lips of many in Kumba, Meme Division of the South West region of Cameroon. A “man of God” among about 38 suspected drug consumers nabbed by the security elements.
According to Douala-based private media Equinoxe Television, the suspects were surprised in their hideout in the Fiango neighbourhood in Kumba, smoking drugs of all types by security forces during a special operation to track down drug consumers in that part of the country.
The 38 were presented to the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Ntou Ndong Chamberlain Wednesday September 1. While cautioning the suspects, the Meme SDO used the opportunity to warn any other youths against indulging into drug trafficking and consumption.
He equally announced efforts by medical authorities in the area to fight against the social ill. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the District medical officer for Kumba, Dr Emmanuel Leffanda said a free medical health and de-intoxication programme is opened for drug-affected youths at all major health units within the city of Kumba and the rest of the Meme Division.
Cameroonian authorities have been at war with drug consumption in the country over the past years. The former Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakari once said that The Anglophone crisis that has caused untold sufferings to the population in the regions illustrates the unprecedented and negative effects of drugs used by young compatriots.
Meanwhile, statistics reveal that about 21 percent of the population in Cameroon have already experienced hard drugs, with over 10 percent as regular users. Among the regular drug users, 60 percent are between 20 and 25 years old, and more than 12,000 young people under 15 are involved in the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Medical authorities in Kumba through the free health and de-intoxication programme thus seek to get concerned youths to be properly reintegrated into the society.
Ariane Foguem
Thousands of homes in Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala flooded Wednesday September 1 after torrential rains that left several neighbourhoods in water hit the town the whole day.
Every year in mid-August, inhabitants of Cameroon’s economic capital Douala wake up to disturbing floods following heavy rains. Household appliances out of order, furniture soaked into water, circulation perturbed to name but these are some of the realities those in the affected neighbourhoods live with.
A similar incident happened Wednesday September 1. A flood too many according to 30-year-old Daniella (not her real name), an inhabitant of the Grand Hangar neighbourhood in Bonaberi, located on the western side of the harbour across the Wouri River from the larger port of Douala.
“I am tired of this whole situation. I got to this neighbourhood two years ago and each year in August, we always suffer from flooding. Take for example it rained the whole day here and when I got home, water had engulfed all my belongings. It wasn’t a surprise to me but it hurts though to be in this situation…” Daniella told Agence Cameroun Presse.
The Grand Hangar neighbourhood in Bonaberi is one of the areas that remained knee-deep flooded yesterday, after several hours of downpour in Douala.
Another inhabitant in this neighbourhood who witnessed the flooding from home confided in Agence Cameroun Presse. "We were lucky enough to be home when it all started. As soon as the thunder rumbled, my children and I quickly raised the beds and other household furniture that could get bad. After that, we left the house with some items we could carry along before the water could rise. This is what we have been doing most of the time…Emelda Tabi, 35-year-old told Agence Cameroun Presse. “Though we have been into this, I must say the strength to do this all the time is gradually failing me.” She added.
When asked why the family persist in living in an area that is always flooded after heavy rains, the 35-year-old mentioned lack of space and insufficient means to pay and live in a decent neighbourhood.
Each year, over 100,000 new city dwellers move into the megalopolis and the gap between supply and demand for available land keeps growing.
In the meantime, Douala is prone to flooding with nearly 250 km of rivers and heavy rainfall averaging 4,000 mm per year. It is located at the mouth of the Wouri River, on a low coastal plateau, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and influenced by the tides.
Last year in August, inhabitants of the economic capital witnessed one of the most devastating floods the city has seen in recent years. It left the ground floors of hundreds of homes under water, and cut off main roads, causing massive traffic jams as the downpour overwhelmed the drainage system.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC), floods will displace an average of 2.7 million people in Africa and flood-related costs could increase tenfold by 2050, to $60 billion a year, in the 136 largest coastal cities.
Ariane Foguem
According to the Director General of the elections governing body Elecam, Erik Essousse, nearly 183,000 persons registered on the just ended electoral lists, with an increase of potential voters as compared to last year.
Electoral lists for the year 2021 opened earlier this year in January and closed Tuesday August 31 as prescribed in the electoral code. Going by statistics recorded during this 2021 revision exercise, nearly 183, 000 persons have enrolled on the electoral registers, bringing the total number of potential voters registered in Cameroon to 7,000,000, pending clean up.
These statistics were unveiled by the Director General of Elections Cameroon, Elecam, Erik Essousse Wednesday September 1 during a press briefing.
According to updated figures, out of the nearly 183,000 who have just registered, 116,631 are men, representing 65.79%, 66,282 are women representing 34.21%, 131,778 are youths, representing 72.04% and 187 are persons with disabilities with a 0.09%.
After listing statistics recorded during the revision process, Erik Essousse said the overall number of registered voters in the country now stand at 7,000,000, pending clean up. Out of the 7,000,000, 3,761,159 are men, giving a 53.28%, 3,296,663 are women with a 46.71%, meanwhile 2,677,674 are youths with a 37.94%.
Elecam’s Director General added that with the close of the registration exercise, focus would be on the cleaning of registers. Upon completion of this clean-up process, provisional electoral registers will be published not later than October 20 at the respective Elecam branches, particularly council branches. After all corrections must have been made at the level of the branches, the Director will then publish the final national electoral register not later than December 30.
Though this year recorded another increase in the number of potential voters to have registered, Elecam is still far from its 10 million citizens enrolled objective set to achieve since 2019. Officials of the elections governing body in the country have attributed this to the COVID-19 pandemic, which according to them has discouraged many Cameroonians. That notwithstanding, they are determined to continue the sensitization to get 10 million enrolled ahead of the next elections in the country.
Ariane Foguem
The Government of Cameroon through the voice of the Governor of the North West region, badly hit by the Anglophone crisis for close to five years has promised to beef up security around schools to ensure an effective kick-off of the 2021/2022 academic year come September 6 in that part of the country.
Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique made the promise Tuesday August 31 during the sector conference of the secondary education sector in the North West region.
He told the education stakeholders that tight security measures will be put in place in schools across the North West region ahead of the 2021/2022 academic year.
For such a move to be successful, Adolphe Lele Lafrique said the population must play their role that of supporting efforts put in place by the Government to guarantee the effective start of classes from September 6.
“All measures will be taken to ease class resumption but we are hoping that the population should mobilize to accompany the administration, stakeholders, and security services in that regard”, Governor Adolphe Lele Afrique said.
The education stakeholders on their part revealed that apart from security concerns, all is almost set for the start of the academic year. Last academic year, 177 schools were operational out of 555 in the secondary education sector in the region.
The fate of Education in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon
The Anglophone regions of Cameroon have since late 2016 witnessed a socio-political crisis that has deteriorated overtime and led to violent clashes between armed forces, loss of lives and property, internal and external displacement and a growing climate of fear and uncertainty.
The current crisis has its roots in grievances that date back to the early 1960s. Recent events led to the escalation of violence and armed confrontations between government forces and non-state armed groups who want the total independence of the two English-speaking regions.
Education has been one of the greatest victims as much of this violence is targeted at schools, with pupils and teachers frequently facing attacks. Armed groups have regularly attacked schools, in the course of which many including pupils and teachers lost their lives and others survived with severe trauma.
Government has been battling hard to reassure families on effective security in schools at the start of academic years since 2017. Separatists fighting the adopted a school boycott/disruption strategy to put pressure on government. This has had a severe impact on children’s ability to attend school and learn in a normal atmosphere.
Ariane Foguem
There have been widespread condemnation after a demo on rape was broadcast live on Ivory Coast’s NCI TV during a talk show hosted by renowned Cameroonian presenter Yves de Mbella. The latter who has been suspended and dragged to court has apologized for shocking viewers while ‘trying to raise awareness’ on the social ill.
“Terribly disgusted!”, “Shocked!”, “Outraged!”, “Appalled!”, “Upset!” “Unacceptable!” These are some of the expressions that have been used by social media users in Ivory Coast and across West and Central Africa while reacting to a live talk show in which a male guest, introduced as a former rapist was asked to demonstrate how he assaulted his victims. The ex-rapist used a plastic mannequin for better demonstration.
The programme, « La télé d’ici vacances » hosted by renowned presenter Yves de Mbella and broadcast at prime time Monday August 30 on the private “Nouvelle Chaine Ivorienne” (NCI) channel, caused outrage on social media that ended up with a petition signed by over 30,000 people, demanding that the presenter and co-hosts be punished.
If the fact that Yves de Mbella hosted a rapist live on air and asked him to demonstrate how he rapes shocked many, asking his guest if his victims used to get orgasms got many more upset. “…Est ce que parmi tes victimes il y’a des victimes qui ont jouit et pris du plaisir quand tu faisais l’amour en les violant ? » That was his question and the ‘ex-rapist’ replied: « Beaucoup, la majorité!” As he further demonstrated the rape process, Yves de Mbella laughed and the crowd applauded, another shocking episode of the talk show.
After the rape demo, the ex-rapist was asked to give advice to women to avoid being raped, given that the programme intended to raise awareness on the societal ill. Unfortunately, Yves de Mbella and his co-hosts have been accused of handling “a sensitive issue like rape with so much lightness”.
Following the massive outcry, Ivory Coast’s independent communications council announced the suspension of the presenter, saying in a statement that the segment used obscene language, condoned rape and attacked the dignity of women.
Strongly criticized on social media for “committing an unforgivable fault”, Yves de Mbella apologized. “I’m sincerely sorry to have shocked everyone while trying to raise awareness,” Yves wrote on Facebook. “I made an error…I’m also sorry for everything that was said or done during that sequence of the programme yesterday that hurt,…I beg for forgiveness from all victims of rape.” He added.
The television channel, NCI equally apologized for airing such content and cancelled the final episode of the show which had been scheduled for Friday.
Latest news on the rape simulation issue indicate Yves de Mbella has been dragged to court. According to Afrikmag.com, the presenter appeared before the State prosecutor this morning. He and the ex-rapist risk a jail sentence.
Ariane Foguem
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the repatriation of 322,000 Nigerian refugees currently living in Cameroon, Niger Republic and Chad. Sadiya Umar Farouq, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Friday received a draft Tripartite Agreement for their voluntary repatriation.
Nigeria is making moves to repatriate some 322,000 of its citizens most of whom fled to neighbouring Cameroon and two other African countries. In a statement Friday August 27 in Abuja, Nneka Anibeze, special assistant on media to the country’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq said the latter has received a draft Tripartite Agreement for their voluntary repatriation.
The draft was submitted to the Minister by the Technical Working Group on the repatriation of Nigerian Refugees in Cameroon. After its ratification, it would kick start preparations for the repatriation of the said refugees, NAN reports.
After receiving the draft Farouq noted that a total of 322,000 Nigerian refugees were currently living in neighbouring countries. “Out of the figures, the Republic of Niger currently hosts 186,957 refugees; the Republic of Cameroon has 118,409 while 16,634 refugees are in the Republic of Chad."
“With a large number of refugees in Niger, Chad and Cameroon, the federal government has officially initiated talks with the governments of Chad and Niger to sign tripartite agreements similar to the one we have with the Republic of Cameroon…” She said.
“I am happy to inform you that we already have a draft copy of the Tripartite Agreement for Voluntary Repatriation of Nigerian Refugees in Niger and Chad Republics,” Farouq added.
Also speaking was the Federal Commissioner at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim. She thanked the minister for the confidence reposed in her and sought the cooperation of all partners in efforts to ensuring the safe return of these refugees.
Earlier in March, over 2000 Nigerian refugees residing in Cameroon’s Far North region were voluntarily repatriated following a tripartite commission on voluntary repatriation, consisting of the UNHCR, Nigeria and Cameroon.
UNHCR had launched an information campaign to collect and confirm return intentions. All refugees who expressed the desire to return received information sessions on conditions in the areas of return, meanwhile, the Government of Cameroon ensured the vaccination of small ruminants, poultry, the transport of refugee luggage and the security of the convoy to Banki by elements of the Multinational Joint Force, sector N1 and finally the government of Nigeria provided transport buses, an ambulance and a fuel truck.
Ariane Foguem
The Vicar General of the Diocese of Mamfe in Manyu Division, South West region of Cameroon, Rev. Fr Julius Agbortoko Agbor has been set free. He was released late Tuesday August 31 without the payment of the FCFA 20 million ransom demanded by his abductors.
The Chancellor of the Mamfe Diocese, Fr Sebastine Sinju, who earlier announced the kidnap of Vicar General, Rev. Fr Julius Agbortoko Agbor has announced he has been released.
In a release issued Tuesday August 31, 2021, the Chancellor says the Vicar General of the Mamfe Diocese was released without the payment of the FCFA 20 million ransom that had earlier been demanded by his kidnappers, allegedly separatist fighters.
“We thank God for his release, we thank all those who joined us to pray for his unconditional release and for us in these turbulent days. We thank all our priests, the faithful and Father’s biological family for their firm faith in God. We appreciate the assistance of everyone who showed concern…” The release partly reads.
Rev. Fr Julius Agbortoko was released after three days in captivity. He was taken away Sunday August 29 by gunmen who identified themselves as separatist fighters at the Bishop’s compound while on a pastoral visitation to Kokobuma, a locality in the Meme Division, South West region and the inauguration of the Presbytery of the parish.
The target of the said gunmen was the Bishop Emeritus Lysinge, but upon seeing a much stronger and younger prelate, they decided to take him away instead of the ‘frail’ Bishop.
After news of his abduction went round, voices raised up to ask for his unconditional release and a halt on attacks on the church and God’s men, with many including Hon. Cabral Libii describing the order of things in the English-speaking regions as more of criminality than fighting for the independence of Anglophones.
Ariane Foguem
