Anglophone Crisis Kill Tad Market

Anglophone Crisis Kill Tad Market

Located in Nyen village, about some 5km from Mbengwi central town, Tad weekly market used to boom in the good old days, attracting vendors and buyers from Njikwa, Ngie, Bamenda and beyond. Tad market was noted for the once renowned Meta garri, palm oil, pigs, fibre bags and baskets amongst others.

Before the advent of the current crisis, Tad market was already breathing its last, begging for a kiss of life. The council tried some renovation works by constructing new sheds but it was like too late. The crisis hammered the last nail on Tad market's coffin.

On several occasions, pro Ambazonia independence fighters had engaged government forces there in a cross fire resulting to the burning of bikes and the killing of an alleged "Amba Boy" as they are fondly called. Many had feared that Tad market will be burnt down as was the case in other sub divisions like Njikwa and Ngie. Luckily enough it never happened.

But unfortunately, despite not being burnt, Tad market still ended up dying. The market is today a shadow of itself. The plank bridge after 3-corners Mbemi has been cut off. Several tree trunks have been fallen across the road from Mile 20 to Nyen prohibiting access to cars. All other roads leading to the market like through Bome, Medig and Gutah have also been blocked.

It is said when the going gets tough, the tough get going. How buyers managed to communicate with sellers, no one can tell but to the greatest dismay of many, mushroom markets surfaced in several parts of Mbengwi last Friday August 3rd 2018, a day Tad market was to function in Nyen. At Njindom squares, business went on. At Mile 20, business went on. At Mile 18, Mbon motor park, business went on. Palm oil, garri, water fufu and other farm produce were sold. Big buyers criss crossed neighborhood to neighborhood with their cargo trucks. The harvest was rich.

One of the vendors of water fufu at Mbon, a housewife struggling to make ends meet told me the unbearable situation of the country has pushed them to be going through such an experience. She said because of the road blocks, they can't access Tad market and as a result, they had to carry their produce from the suburbs on their heads and trek to Mile 18 covering a distance of over 5km so as to meet with buyers. As to how business was faring, she said "We are just managing. Only few buyers are even coming. Because of the distortion, many can't identify where to now locate us."

Ngwe Obed is from Chenam village. Being an agric technician, he too just like many was surprised to see the impromptu market spots at Mbon. He said back in his village, people need money, they have goods to sell but are stranded because of the situation in the country. Their roads have been blocked and the people are scared. If they knew buyers were in Mbon some would have even  carried their produce on their heads and trek to Mbengwi town.

It should be recalled that in the afternoon of this same Friday 3rd August, Mbengwi was shut down after distant gunshot sounds emanating from the Mile 19 direction sent all closing down their shops and running home for safety. Within few minutes, the streets became empty. The next day, more than 90% of the population packed out for the bushes because two civilians were killed in the exchange.

One of the businesses that's been hardest hit because of the road blockades is the pig business. Many villagers had been selling their pigs at give away prices to buyers who now take advantage of the situation. This is because a bag of animal feed that used to sell at 3000F has gone up to 5000 and the stock that was left in the stores is exhausted. Dealers in the suburbs can no longer have supply from Mbengwi and Bamenda because of the road blocks. Even cars too have been stranded in the villages and Mbengwi town. Till the day the blockades will be cleared, these vehicles will remain grounded. Those who hadn't sold their pigs are now regretting because no one knows tomorrow.

Ndikara Lawrence is a pig farmer in Wumnebit village. I met him selling his pig to a buyer who came right to his door to buy. Asked why he was selling his pig, he said "The situation in town now is rough. Very soon we will be facing difficulties to feed them. So we are left with no option than to remove them and sell." He went ahead to say "There's no profit. Instead we are selling at a loss because there's no means for buyers to even come and buy."

The sand business too hasn't been spared. In the  past, especially during summer holidays, many young boys earned a living from extracting sand from the rivers. There are students who paid their fees, rents and procured other school needs with money they worked through the sale of sand. But right now, hips of fine sand have been grounded along the banks of rivers in Mbengwi. Tippers can't access these rivers because of road blocks. At the end, the idle mind of these young boys and men will automatically become the devil's workshop.

No one seems to know again which way to use in pressuring the Cameroon government to deescalate the crisis. To the coat wearing politicians in the cities, the situation is under control. But to the chafing population on the ground, in the suburbs, it never rains but it pours.