How Ghost Towns Lock Downs Affect Towns Out Of NW

It has been three years and running, the sociopolitical crisis that moved in to a full arm conflict with deadly clashes recorded every day between state actors and non-State actors, has had  economic repercussions not only in the NW and SW but also on villages and Towns located on the highway from Bamenda to Yaounde or Douala. Economic operators on these stretches of road who depend on travellers going to Yaounde or to Douala completely ground businesses on Mondays, which are observed as Ghost Towns and worse during lockdowns which sometimes go for 10 Days.

To measure the gravity of Ghost Towns and lockdowns, this reporter took a trip to Yaounde and made a stop at Makenene and met this hawker selling peeled Pineapple. Susan Fiegn, strapping her seven months old baby, said she had escaped from Belo in 2018 where the father of her daughter Naomi, was shot dead accused of belonging to the Separatists group fighting the State. She said, "...I came here to live with my maternal uncle and got indulged in Hawking  for survival. Normally I make FCFA 3000 a day from hawking peeled pineapples and on ghost Mondays I am unable to make up to FCFA1500 and during lock Downs in the NW the effect is heavy on us here in Makenene...." On his part James Nfonkain who roast Sawyer, laments thus, "..since the advent of the crisis in my region because I come from Kom of Boyo division where it is hard hit, it has really affected my business seriously because most people who use to travel on this road have relocated from the NW and are permanently in Yaounde or other Towns and villages in Francophone area, so business cannot be at its best even on normal days of the week talk less during lock-downs. Those who manage to travel don't have money to spend freely like before maybe because the economy of the NW has collapsed .I have been in this business for over 19 years and my family depends on it for livelihood. I think government should change the method of seeking a solution to the ongoing crisis....my supply chain of goats from the NW has been cut off because my suppliers in the villages have all escaped for their dear life..." 

One Nina, a girl of about 22 who manages a privately owned public toilet at Makenene, told this reporter that when more people travel and stop at Makenene, she gets more customers and on Mondays traffic is so low and she could stay the whole day without making FCFA 500. She also noticed that most people speaking English or pigin have of recent resorted to using the nearby bushes to ease themselves..." 

The fruit market at Tonga in Bangante and at Melong have also witnessed a drop in turn over. Marie Djeukam, who trade in watermelon told this reporter that she use to sell 200 watermelon and of recent she barely struggles to sell 15 watermelon a day and Mondays she goes her to the farm since traffic won't be at it's best. Most of her watermelon gets bad since the necessary facility for long time preservation is lacking.

The transport sector is highly hit as all vehicles plying NW and SW are grounded on Ghost Towns days and during lockdowns. Driver's of Mondial express say they have learned a bitter  lesson after losing several of their buses to fire. Each time there is a ghost town or lock-downs driver's of these agencies park their vehicles and stay put. Taxi Drivers who survive from these parks are also hard hit given travelers would go to the park on these days. The tollgates collection is also affected given the reduced volume of traffic on these roads.
 This publication was made possible with the support from ADISI-Cameroon, a Douala based organization working on issues of access to information and freedom of expression. ADISI-Cameroon also works to promote open Data and Data journalism through its citizen Access to information platform, DataCameroon.

By Ignatius Nji

Investigative Journalists Empowered To Press For Good Governance

 Participants Pose with Trainer

The governance relapse in Cameroon has been partially blamed on the lack of investigative Journalists. This void has let open a wide window for the overwhelming corrupt practices in the country. Most cases of corruption, embezzlement and money laundry often go unnoticed reasons for the stagnation in the country in terms of development. 

In order to bridge this gab, the Club of Journalists in Politics solicited training from the US Embassy in Cameroon on investigation techniques. For two days Journalists drawn from the Northwest, Southwest, Centre and littoral regions of English expression were given the basic and useful techniques of investigative Journalism and were challenged to dig up things and draw attention of those in authority. 

The ARS trainer, Sarah J. Wachter, a Journalist with a wide experience in different fields of journalism, took participants down the rough road of investigative Journalism. The bottom line of any investigative Journalist she said is to follow the money trail. After putting facts and figures together which is never an easy task, the story should be told in such a simple and easy to understand manner and be able to connect readers to the story. Trailing the money from take off point to where it disappears into tax heavens should your focus. She said.

Participants were made to understand that when a journalist starts digging in to things, he will not be liked by those who are concerned. Knowing what awaits he or she should there be an error that investigator should make sure that only hard and verifiable facts are gotten. These can be obtained only by asking more and more questions to primary sources and can only resort to secondary sources when primary sources are adamant to speak up. ".....Make sure that sources agree to be quoted in the article else you get them to give you another source to verify the information you have been given...." Sarah said. 

In order to minimize getting into serious trouble some red lines were identified and that those who embark on investigative Journalism must master those redlines and should have contacts with sources within and without government circles, collaborate with colleagues in other countries where the money trail is connected.

 In case of litigation which is common in investigative Journalism, French speaking countries have the Napoleonic code, where only documented evidences are accepted in court in case of litigation over a report. So participants were advised to safeguard all documented proofs. Investigative Journalism being too dangerous, those who engage in it should be discreet and disclose very little information of themselves even on Social Media. 

According to the representative of the US Embassy branch office in Douala, Ellias Patricia Rashida, who has a 30 years career as a Journalist behind her back, said training Journalists on investigative techniques is part of the Embassy's focus on supporting Cameroon towards good governance practices and fight against corruption. This lady advised participants to do everything to keep their integrity in order to be trusted by the public and news sources. "... In my 30 years of practice, nobody can accuse me of haven taken money to halt an investigation....once you start digging, you start getting attacks from interest groups...." She said. 

Deadly Explosive On Women's Day Left Military 01 dead,03 Amputated,05 Injured

 It was exactly11 am on March 8 in Bamenda women were so relaxed feeling their day with the Governor Adolphe Lele L'Afrique addressing. While the Chief Executive was in the middle of his speech in honour of the women's Day celebration a deadly explosive emanated from some makeshift stores opposite the grandstand. The deafening sound of the explosive devise went off crippling already grounded business units on the Commercial Avenue.

The explosion was triggered by a locally fabricated devise. The incident recorded many casualties among the military officers who were stationed on that spot for security. Though no official statement was issued, sources on the ground say close to nine military officers were seriously injured and that it is feared three of the victims might  not be able to walk normally again. Angry soldiers are said to have set ablaze the makeshift stores where the explosive was planted. The fire further consumed all the makeshift stores around the famous Santa park opposite  Congelcam along the commercial Avenue Bamenda. As the fire brigade combat squad rushed in to put out the ravaging fire, it was little too late as the makeshift stores had all been consumed.

This incident is coming on the heels of an attack at a Gendarmerie Brigade in Galim in the West Region. Security report states that over 20 armed men stormed the Brigade on bikes and took the officers by surprise, killing some and wounding others. The attackers took away three AK 47 and some bullet magazines. The arm men though unidentified were said to have left Galim and rode off towards Ngoketunjia Division.

West Governor Augustine Fonka Awah confirmed to newsmen on Sunday March 8, that there was an attack in Galim on Saturday carried by Separatist fighters.

By Ignatius Nji

Families Continue To Bleed As Arm Struggle Escalates Daily

 

A Warrant Of arrest For The Ombaku family

 The rate of killings taking place in the Anglophone part of the country due to the escalating conflict because of the Anglophone crisis has remained alarming. According to one Mbah Austin, a native of hard hit Momo Division, as in previous narrations, says the Anglophone crisis has dealt a severe blow on many families, in Momo Division. Many families are being targeted and some killed while many others are said to have fled to other parts of the country and to neighboring Nigeria. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has continue to push on to ceiling level as the situation got worse by the just ended presidential election that saw Paul Biya reelected President of Cameroon.   It should be noted that Paul Biya during campaigns for reelection and during his inaugural speech had promised order that those separatist fighters who fail to lay down their arms would be neutralized. The Amba fighters had also vowed to enforce a boycott of the election in Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) and it came to pass.

With the unending gun battles between the military and separatist fighters, the armless population in those hot zones like in Ngie, Njikwa, Andek, Widikum and Batibo are caught between. The Ombaku’s family is among the many caught in this drama. As reported in the previous write up, Nestor Nyambi Ombaku, a staff at the Inspectorate of Basic Education for Njikwa, who is presently on the run and his whereabouts are unknown, was accused of facilitating sponsorship from abroad to fund activities of the Ambazonia freedom fighters in Njikwa, Ngie and Andek area where he hails from.

According to close sources the security operatives had launched a search for Nestor Nyambi Ombaku to no avail, his family became the target. A warrant for the arrest and detention of him and all other Ombaku’s family members including women and minors was issued on 13th August 2018. The said family that has been noted to be too vocal in the opposition party activities in the area was accused of now siding and sponsoring the Ambazonia freedom fighters. Their being targeted could be evident as deduced from a public statement, made by Mayor Ekema Patrick of Buea thus openly calling for the kidnapping of families of Ambazonia leaders and suspected sponsors resident abroad. The Mayor made this statement in the presence of the Governor of the South West Region and other panelists over CRTV radio Buea. This was during their infamous called for back to school program given that schools to a larger extend have been shutdown across Northwest and Southwest Regions..

As if heeding to this call by Mayor Ekema, the local administration in Momo picked the Ombaku’s family that has relations abroad, to set an example. They were accused of inciting unrest, rebellion against the state, withholding useful information for an ongoing investigation and wiring financial support for separatist movements. This accusation sent most of the Ombaku’s family members to escape from Momo division, Njikwa sub-Division to seek refuge elsewhere.

Late Anjiangwe Gerard In his Own Pool Of Blood

As if to add salt to injury, the Ombaku's are yet to come to terms with the brutal killing of one of theirs, Akiata Gerard Anjiangwe, aged 19, a pupil seminarian of the archdiocese of Bamenda. Anjiangwe Gerard was a maternal cousin to the Ombaku's, from Konda, a mission station of the Njindom parish. While on Seminary works he fell victim and was targeted and killed by the military in Bamessing - Ndop on the 4th of October 2018. According to an eye witness account as testified during his burial, Gerard was standing in front of the parish house after morning mass with other Christians. A military truck drove in from the direction of Bamunka, those standing with Gerard noticed the oncoming military truck and quickly ran into the Parish house. Before Gerard could sense danger of the approaching military towards the church, it was too late and the door to the parish house had been locked. The military then asked Gerard who introduced himself to them as a seminarian and presented his national Identity Card. The military ordered him to kneel down with his hands up, he respected them and obeyed. Later on the other Christians who were inside the Parish house heard gun shots and when they opened the door after the military had left, they discovered the lifeless body of Gerard in front of the parish house. He had been shot multiple times in the chest, It was purely execution style by professionals. During the funeral and burial of Gerard at Big Mankon Cathedral cemetery Bamenda, military operatives came searching for any member of those families earmarked for arrest but found none.

SDF Reverts Refugee Supplies To IDPs In NW, SW

                         Mayor Balick Fidelis Chairman of Distribution Commission

Failure to secure a permit from the High Commissioner, to cross over to Nigeria and visit the over 50.000 refugees from Cameroon in Nigeria with supplies, Social Democratic Front party SDF headed by Chairman Fru Ndi resolved at a National Executive Committee meeting that held recently in Bamenda, to rather reach out to the internally displaced persons in the Northwest and Southwest Regions. The managing Commission head charged with distribution, Balick Awah Fidelis Mayor of Bamenda II, told pressmen that the resolve was welcomed by NEC members and surely it would be appreciated by the general public.

Mayor Balick said the reverting is because of the numerous speed brakes mounted by some regime Barons stopping the SDF as a party through their National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi from travelling to Nigeria, does not in any way means that the refugees in Nigeria have been abandoned and forgotten. He made allusion to the probability of getting SDF militants in Nigeria to pay them a visit with the necessary supplies. These supplies are said to have been donated by just everybody for the party to meet with the brothers and sisters running away from restive areas.

Pressmen were ushered in to the store room where the supplies had been piled in heaps for almost a year now. The consignment consist of bags of rice, maize, beans, oil, blankets, some medication, clothes, utensils, shoes  and hygienic female pad. These supplies would go to savage the already precarious situation and it is hoped that by the time the supplies are getting finished, solution to the crisis would have been sought. Some families in Bamenda and environs are hosting 15 to 20 IDPs in their homes and have been feeding them for months  which is not an easy feat given the very tight finances.

To benefit from this gesture, victims are advised to meet any Mayor of the SDF party within Mezam and register his or her name and the supplies would be delivered to them where they are hosted just to ensure that they are not collected by the wrong people and later sold. The supply destined for Southwest region shall be channeled through the party’s representation. The Mayor prides self that SDF is people oriented reason why the supplies were contributed by the common man. Typical of the SDF, Mayor Balick blasted government initiative to what is now referred to as emergency humanitarian relief plan budgeted at FCFA 12.7 Billion, saying that the money is being contributed by the very Rich for reasons beyond giving assistance to IDPs and refugees. To him, one of those Rich people can even manage the IDPs and Refugees from his pocket but are seen pretending to contribute a few millions from the lot that they have amassed at the detriment of the people through tax evasion. According to Mayor Balick, the speed brakes were political given that those who masterminded the speed brakes at the level of Nigerian High Commissioner know very well that if SDF moves to meet Refugees in Nigeria, it would score the party more points national and internationally.

By Ignatius Nji