Truly N.W Governor's Convoy was Attacked but no Deaths Recorded Contrary to Social Media Reports

This fact checked report is brought to you by ADISI-Cameroun

On Monday the 21st of October 2019, the news was broken and spread on social media that the convoy of the N.W governor Adolph Lele Lafrique has been attacked. One of the early sites that reported the fake news was BaretaNews. The site published that "BaretaNews can now confirm that the colonial governor of Northern zone convoy was ambushed yesterday and five of his soldiers died on the spot. We cannot say at this time the health situation of the northern zone chief killer, Mr. Governor. We will bring you updates soon. Stay tuned"

Fake Image used to insinuate the the governor is no more

Other sites like Mimi Mefo Info and Cameroon News Agency also picked up the story of the attack but talked of no killings like BaretaNews claimed. Within the next minutes,  fake news publication sites immediately got down to work,  twisting the story with fake images and videos plus write ups to push forth their propaganda agenda.

Amba Go Viral is one of the specialised fake news sites that twisted the story. At 1:44pm on Tuesday October 22nd, the page published a report titled What you must know after the colonial governor was attacked on his way back from Nguketunjia. The fake report said "LRC colonial governor of the Northern Zone was fatally wounded in the attack as he returned from Nguketunjia...Thirdly, the death toll had increased to ten persons in the convoy. The said site in the report went ahead to publish an image of a  child soldier of "3 years old" being used by government forces that the restoration fighters also killed during the attack but looking at the image, it's a boy of over 18 years dressed in military uniform but not that of the BIR, the special force that was securing the governor. To further justify the fake news, Amba Go Viral posted an image of a burnt military truck,  identified by the various comments made under the post as belonging to the Nigerian army yet was shared to insinuate that it's an armoured car in the governors convoy that the fighters destroyed. 

Fake: This burnt Nigerian military truck is not an armoured car used by Cameroon military

On the YouTube channel Ambazonia Latest News,  a video was posted with a fake image still alerged not to be Cameroonian and an attached voice note in which the reporter said "The motorcade of NW governor Adolph Lele Lafrique has come under another serious attack by separatist forces. The attack which we learnt was very fierce took place on the 20th of October as the governor was returning from nkambe where he just installed the SDO there."

This is fake. No S.D.O (Senior Divisional Officer) was installed in Nkambe on this day. Instead,  the governor went to Nkambe to donate gifts to a vigilante group there, this after installing Lanyuy Harry Ngwanyi as S D.O for Bui division which is different from Nkambe, headquarters of Donga Mantung division in the N.W region.  

To add to their propaganda scheme, indicative of how the network is set up, the Facebook site Cameroon News Agency published a video in which a non state armed group known as The Tigers of Baba 1 under a certain General Shao Mao narrate how the Baba attack on N.W governor's convoy took place on Monday, October 21st 2019. In the said video showing some splitted pieces of wood (eucalyptus) and  an Express Union mobile box that were supposedly used to block the road at a giraffe crossing spot on the highway,  the voice of a supposed fighter identifying himself as spokesperson of LLF, Mountain Tigers of Baba 1 is heard narrating their "achievenent." He talks of how glasses were scattered and blood spilt at the scene during yesterday's  incidence but with no specificities on which particular incidence he was referring to. Watching the said video,  no blood is seen,  no scattered glasses.

A dirge for the alive governor

Since it takes only a lie to justify another lie,  Africa Ambaland, a facebook page soon joint the fake news dissemination network to publish a fake video of a hospitalised injured man with a shattered left hand from where blood was oozing claiming it's the governor.  Another fake photo of the same man alerged to be an accident victim was circulated on the site still claiming it was the governor.  This set confusion in many whatsapp groups and on several facebook pages as some persons could lick poison that it was truly the governor lying on the bed.  To the fake photo,  a dirge was attached "We are looking for,  where is he ohhh" meaning the governor had died yet on Tuesday October 22nd 2019, the said governor Adolph Lele Lafrique was on the Bamenda grand stand, Commercial Avenue looking hale and hearty during a ceremony to install Mooh Emile Simon as new S.D.O for Mezam division, the very governor that was reported on social media to have been seriously injured, killed.

The propagandists went as far as falsifying The Guardian Post Newspaper, edition no. 1754 of Tuesday October 22nd with a fake front page headline that read "NW Governor Adolphe Lele L'afrique brutally attacked and wounded by Ngoketunja Ambazonia fighters killing 7 soldiers on the spot and 10 others who died later   due to serious gunshot wounds as war intensify in full force" The original main headline of the newspaper was "Upcoming legislative, municipal election: How Possible is NW, SW?"

Fake Edition of The Guardian Post Newspaper

In Whatsapp groups, two voice notes were recorded and circulated in which the speaker again identified himself as General Shao Mao of the Ngoketunjia Restoration Forces. In the first audio clip, the speaker said Baba is red as the governor's convoy has been taken down with explosives. In the second (5mins 39secs) he expressed happiness and gratefulness, extending thanks to all generals,  commanders, especially commander Bin Laden of Baba 1 and foot soldiers particularly Baba 1 Mountain Tigers for a job well done, calling on them to remain calm as something is seriously happening. "I've received a call from colonels and generals and I want to tell La Republique that they should account of Lele Afrique, his return back to Bamenda as they passed through Baba 1, why are they quiet? said General Shao Mao in the voice note. Again, the very next day,  the probably resurrected governor was seen in public carrying out his state duties. 

To get the veracity of what actually transpired,  I contacted a source that was part of the governor's convoy who concluded to me "It is fake, it is not true" a conclusion that was preceded by a detailed account of the journey. 

Governor on red carpet installing new Mezam SDO after the fake news was spread

As we left Bamenda to Kumbo for the SDO's installation,  around the Bambili hill,  we heard a loud noise "Pouuuummm!!!" We were told it was a mounted explosive that just exploded. We continued till Kumbo, did the installation,  took off for Nkambe where the governor had to donate some gifts. At Kikaikilaiki, we heard one gunshot. We continued till we reached Nkambe. The next day we went to Misaje. In the morning we handed the gifts to the vigilante groups down there. By 3pm I overheard the military saying we will have to pass the night in Nkambe. I asked why and they said it'll be very risky travelling in the night from Donga Mantung through Bui because it's difficult to fight the restoration forces at night. They equally told me that they've gotten security reports that explosives have been mounted along the road. So we passed the night in Nkambe and got up in the morning for Bamenda. On our way, around Kikaikilaiki Maa, we had serious gun battles there that affected a red civilian car. The fighters targeted the civilian car because that was the only car their locally fabricated bullets could penetrate. In the exchange, the door glass was shattered slightly wounding a Muslim woman that was seated on the front seat. They were taken care of by the medical soldiers who were onboard the trip. As we were leaving Babungo for Baba 1, other series of gun battles ensued. Upon entering Baba 1, the convoy haulted. I heard "Bouuummm!!!" and I saw a lot of smoke. I was told an explosive had exploded where the armoured car was standing but it's occupants weren't inside.  All the soldiers that were in it had descended to take cover in the bush. After the shootings,  they came back,  entered their car and we took off till we reached their base in Ndop. Again we were told we won't be allowed to continue because there are a lot of "Ambazonian" fighters at Bamessing waiting for this convoy. Some 8 soldiers left for the bush and all we could hear was deafening gunshots.  When we finally took off,  we didn't hear any gunshots again until we reached Bamenda. That's  the story my informant recounted to me. 

Images of the said red car, matriculated LT 523 IJ were circulated on social media particularly on the site Cameroon News Agency (CNA) saying "A baptism of fire for newly installed BUI SDO whose convoy was attacked on Tuesday by Ambazonia fighters in Bui. No one died but some occupants sustained minor  injuries" This is very fake. The newly installed Bui SDO was never attacked. The red car wasn't even his 

Despite all the evidences that the governor's convoy was attacked severally,  military sources have denied that  such a thing happened. In a release being circulated on social media, Commander Cyrille Serge ATONFACK GUEMO, Head of the Communication Division in the Ministry of Defence says "Pseudo-secessionist extremists are spreading rumours suggesting that the convoy of the Governor of the North-Western Region, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, was attacked, with heavy human and material casualty. This is not true. Nothing as such happened."

#237BloggersSummit Now Trending

#237BloggersSummit Now Trending

A blog (shortening of “weblog”) is an online informational website displaying it's content in the reverse chronological order, with latest posts appearing first and used by a writer(s) to share their views on a subject, shape public opinion and make money. Bloggers are the new influencers as there are bloggers and YouTube personalities with millions of followers that organisations need to develop relationships with now for better public relations. 

Blogging is said to have started in the Cameroon communication sector about some 13 years back. Today, it is estimated there are over 200 Cameroonian bloggers within and without the country. As days go by, more individuals (mostly journalists) keep creating  and running their own blogs for news,  entertainment,  sports,  business,  health,  politics,  religion, activism and other nitches.

#237BloggersSummit Attendees

The success story recorded at the first ever Cameroonian Bloggers Summit that took place in Douala from the 26th to the 28th of October 2019 under the theme "Blogging, Development Tool" was a major indicator to how blogging has come to stay in the country considering that there exists already a registered Cameroon Blogger's Association,  the body that organised the summit. Drawn from Yagoua, Yaounde, Buea, Douala and Bamenda, attendees for three days exchanged on blogging and its perception in the Cameroonian society,  blogging and civic responsibility, regional challenges related to blogging, blogger as key player in sustainable development etc. 

Created in Yaoundé on the 13th of April 2017 the association is currently having 42 members with prospects for a huge increase in the days ahead following the recent holding of the summit. It's outgoing national president Rene Jackson Nkowa says blogs contribute to hundreds of online content daily. As such,  he encouraged his peers to ameliorate the practice by networking and developing financially valuable content. Interestingly,  cases of persons having Blogger as occupation on their National Identity Cards are already being recorded meaning the phenomenon is speedily gaining grounds.  In next door Nigeria there are millionaires that generate all their income only from blogging.

#237BloggersSummit Backdrop

At first, early Cameroonian bloggers did blogging for passion but of recent the trend has been shifting towards wealth creation and employment. Some aspects like poor internet access,  dwindling economy,  sociopolitical crisis, non regulation and generational differences in ICT knowledge between the young and the old have been identified as a hindrance to blogging in Cameroon. The public is too is still to familiarise itself with the role of bloggers.

Despite these setbacks,  it was however revealed during the Douala summit that the state and corporate companies are beginning to recognise and value bloggers. The #237BloggersSummit was supported by Nestlé,  Groupe SABC, Active Spaces, and TV5 Monde Afrique that are among the many institutions that have started involving bloggers in their communication plans. Rostand Banzeu, Steve Tchoumba and Brice Kamga Monthè, the trio being heads of the communication units of the first three companies listed above exchanged with the attendees on "Why Brands Solicit Blogging in a Sustainable Development Context."

Mbengwi Online Represented

One of the major outcomes of the maiden Cameroonian Bloggers Summit was a resolution to amalgamate if possible,  all Anglophone and Francophone Cameroonian bloggers both within and without the nation on one platform, www.blogueurs.cm that is also available on Twitter and Facebook so that from there,  plans to ameliorate the practice could be drawn and implemented. Before closing the summit,  using Keyhole, a social media analytics company that provides real-time data with hashtag tracking for Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc,  the organisers evaluated and found out that the #237BloghersSummit is now known by millions of social media users.

To End Crisis, Implore Equality, Inclusion, Tolerance - COMINSUD

To End Crisis,  Implore Equality, Inclusion,  Tolerance - COMINSUD

Day by day, more and more civil society organisations have continued to join the Cameroon government and international bodies in attempting a way out of the current socio-political stalemate crushing the two English speaking regions of Cameroon dubbed the Anglophone Crisis. 

It is in this light that a one day workshop for media practitioners on strategies and approaches in promoting attitude change towards positive thinking,  tolerance and non violence was recently organised in Bamenda on Thursday October 17th 2019 by  COMINSUD, Community Initiative for Sustainable Development, an organisation committed to inspiring changes within communities that leads to enhancement of quality life for people. Its activities are focused on promoting good governance, a culture of peace, empowering of women, youths and marginalised communities and engaging in humanitarian works in the present sociopolitical context among others. 

Participants pose for a family photo am

Participants weren't media practitioners only but included religious,  educational, legal, socio-cultural and civil society organisations alongside youths and community leaders drawn from almost all the various tribes and villages that make up the entire N.W region like Wimbum, Aghem, Nso, Meta, Mankon, Fundong, Ndop, Bali, Santa, Bafut, Njinikom, Batibo etc. 

Welcoming the over a hundred participants at the workshop that took place on the campus of the Catholic University of Cameroon, CATUC Bamenda,  the COMINSUD BOD chair,  Madam Tchambie Julie said "In the backdrop of what has today become known as the Anglophone Crisis, response by actors hasn't made things better reason why COMINSUD came up with this project to promote attitude and behaviour change, moving from a society with growing negativity, intolerance and violence to a society that promotes the values of positivity, tolerance and non violence"

Journalists pose for pic

The coordinator of COMINSUD, Mr. Fon Nsoh on his own part while presenting a summary report from reflections on negativity and intolerance revealed that COMINSUD is a partner of the Civil Peace Society (CPS) network in Cameroon which is a vast program of the German government operating in several countries across the world for the promotion of the values of peace. To him,  conflicts will always exist but managing them not to turn violent should be prioritised. Until the advent of the Anglophone crisis, the NW region was said to be a bastion for inter tribal conflicts with some of the prominent ones that made news being Bali-Bawock,  Oku-Mbessa,  Bali Kumbat-Bafanji, all of which resulted to destruction of houses and farms and killing of animals and humans, this because of inequality, intolerance and non-inclusion.

Conflicts are caused by negativity,  a tendency or inside feeling that makes one to be skeptical and pessimistic towards ideas, views and other's opinions. Extreme negativity pushes people to undesirable actions like violence.  However, facts,  figures and statistics have remained strong weapons to fight violence and intolerance including dialogue,  negotiation and compromise. 

Working session 

Mr. Mbanwi Stephen,  a participant representing the Meta Cultural and Development Association (MECUDA) told the workshop organiser "I'm so pleased with the workshop. I've seen the richness of it" Mr. Ndangam Hussein, a community volunteer for Fundong on his part narrated his experience with restoration forces he came across and how he used dialogue,  tolerance  and negotiation to free himself from their hands.  Jeff Ngawe, a reporter with The Reporter Newspaper recounted how in the yesteryears precisely the 60s and 70s they never knew of inter tribal,  religious, cultural and even regional division till university when they started witnessing anglophone marginalisation in the University of Yaounde 1. From thence he developed a radical mind but thanks to the many peace workshops he's been attending,  he's now able to tolerate as his mind has been softened.

COMINSUD Banner

Participants at the end of the workshop returned home with a call on them to step up non violent communication methods to pressure for change through creative writing,  music,  football,  drama, debates, radio reports, special prresentstions/write ups and other intellectual exercises.

2019 PIB Projects in Momo Evaluated, Batibo Council Found Wanting

2019 PIB Projects in Momo Evaluated, Batibo Council Found Wanting

The third divisional performance follow up committee meeting for the evaluation of physical and financial execution of the 2019 Public Investment Budget (PIB) projects in Momo division has been held with a call on mayors to seat up and award all contracts within their reach, those below 5 million. The firm call was made by Mr. Marceliout Djunang, Chief of Service for Economic and Financial Affairs at the Momo S.D.Os office, seating in for the new boss of the division Fouda Etaba Nicaise last Wednesday October 16th 2019 in the conference hall of the Momo divisional delegation of Labour and  Social Security where the meeting took place, bringing together divisional service heads, technicians and various stakeholders involved in the committee. 

Welcoming participants, the Momo Divisional Delegate of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) began by appreciating her collaborators like the principal of G.B.H.S Mbengwi, the deputy mayor of Widikum, the Council Development Officer of Mbengwi and some delegations that have consistently been furnishing her office with information and pictures to back up percentages of work done on the field.  Such information she said help her to build up her own reports and forward to the regional level where according to the delegate, Momo is being appreciated for properly presenting her reports and on time. 

Momo Divisional Finance Building in an Advanced Stage of Delapidation

While examining the physical and financial execution of PIB projects in Momo division for the 2018/2019 financial year, the Batibo Council was found wanting as of recent,  it's been boycotting follow up meetings. Even the just ended one had no single official from Batibo despite being informed. Andek Council has so far signed contracts for four of her projects for 2019 while jobbing orders are being prepared. The Mbengwi council on her part has already engaged all projects in her municipality with site installations already being done for some though followed by a timid take off. Njikwa has 5 projects below 5 million out of which 3 have been received and as for the Widikum council,  two purchase orders have been engaged. The deputy mayor for the Widikum council said they've recorded instances of a contractor being kidnapped by restoration forces and hosted in their camp for two weeks only to return,  looking like a corpse.  Another, executing a contract in Widikum was also kidnapped in Acha-Tugi, shut on the head but fortunately he miraculously survived.

One hot potato the follow up committee members found it difficult to swallow was the obstacles posed by the electricity and water utility corporations,  Eneo and Camwater in the execution of public contracts especially road projects. Quite often,  councils run into problems with these corporations for destroying their pipes or poles when constructing or grading municipal roads. The mayor of the Mbengwi council for example lamented that if asked to come and displace their water pipes or electric poles,  the bills usually landed on councils by the companies are often back breaking,  at times even more than the contract budget. 

To nail the coffin on the subject,  it was finally resolved that the concerned, Eneo and Camwater should review the placement of their pipes and poles to meet up with changing times while contractors must consult the urban development and housing delegation and that of environment, sustainable development and nature protection before executing any public contract. The former will provide a town planner who has what is envisaged for the municipality so that a building won't be placed where a water pipe was expected to be buried or an electric pole planted while the latter will help in providing a technician to carry out environmental impact assessment studies on any project site to ascertain it's feasibility and sustainability after which the findings must be included in the tender document.

Momo Divisional Delegation of Commerce,  Abandoned Project

From the recommendations and resolutions of the previous divisional consultation meeting,  the relevant technical services were tasked to ensure that site installation is done in the presence of all members before any project takes off meanwhile the ministers of finance and that of the economy will be served reminder letters on the poor state of the Momo Divisional finance building that's speedily delapidating,  barely few years after it was constructed and put into use,  a project estimated to cost over 20 millions. 

While closing the session,  the SDO's representative advised and encouraged all involved in the execution chain to be extra prudent when on the field in other not to fall victim in the hands of armed fighters considering the current tensed atmosphere. He will then insist that lazy ones shouldn't hide behind the pretext of insecurity to ruin the state because even with the current situation,  there are contractors successfully executing public contracts in remote areas believed to be infested with fighters.

The absence of the president of the Momo divisional performance follow up committee meeting, Hon. Edna Enih Mbah was noticeable. Momo Division has 61 projects in the 2019 Public Investment Budget worth 1.052.822.000Frs in Appropriation Expenditure and 1.062.822.000Frs in Commitment Appreciation. Out of the 61 earmarked projects for the division,  36 haven't been started,  9 have been completed while 16 are ongoing giving a physical realisation rate of 21.55%

Monono Hands-off Momo to Fouda & Walks to the Centre

Monono Hands-off Momo to Fouda & Walks to the Centre

Momo Division now has a new SDO. Fouda Etaba Bernoit Nicaise, on Tuesday October 15th 2019 took over command from Absalom Monono Woloa. The installation cum handing over ceremony was presided at by the North West regional governor,  Adolph Lele Lafrique. 

One of the major administrative changes that took place in the North West and South West regions after the holding of the Major National Dialogue in Yaounde from October 1st to the 5th 2019, ordered by the Head of State to address the ongoing Anglophone Crisis and other issues of national concern and which ended with a resolution to grant special statues to these two regions was a presidential decree No. 2019/536 of 07 October 2019 appointing S.D.Os across the national territory. From the appointments,  Fouda Etaba Bernoit Nicaise, previously Divisional Officer (D.O) of Mbengwi was promoted to the rank of Senior Divisional Officer for Momo Division in replacement of Absalom Monono Woloa, transferred to the Mbam and Inoubou Division of the Centre Region in same capacity. 

Monona Walking out of Momo

During the installation ceremony that took place on the Mbengwi ceremonial grandstand on Tuesday October 15 2019, the mayor of the municipality, Tebe Beatrice told the outgoing prefect that his constant words of encouragement  to all in every seating will be remembered and that his reassurances was a motivational factor to the well-being of the population. To the incoming,  the mayor told him that as a man in the house,  he must have observed Mbengwi for long and thus,  she hopes the Lord that appoints will continue to empower his servants with wisdom to serve his people. 

The regional governor in his speech during the official handing over of command between Monono and Fouda began by thanking all attendees for braving the odds to be at the event ground. After listening to the worries expressed by the mayor on behalf of the population,  the governor told her "You know as well as I know that when normalcy returns,  all these concerns will receive attention from the government." He will then proceed to address the two SDOs, the population and traditional leaders that are auxiliaries of the administration. In appreciating his stewardship within his term of office as he handled the administration and crisis in his division with tact and commitment to fatherland,  the governor through a quotation from Martin Luther told Monono "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy." "We of the North West wish you God's guidance and protection as you take up service in the Centre after five years in the region." he added

Fouda Etaba Bernoit Nicaise, Momo's New SDO Takes Command 

In outlining the functions of the incoming civil administrator, the governor told the new Senior Divisional Officer (S.D.O) that his role shall be  to ensure maintenance and enforcement of law and order,  ensure general coordination and control of administrative action in the division, facilitate the return of all displaced persons to their places of origin within the division, coordinate and supervise distribution of aide to affected persons, monitor and supervise international organisations and local partners helping I.D.Ps and the affected population in the division,  ensure schools resume, fighters drop their arms and bring the current crisis to a final end in Momo. "Having spent all your command career here,  you should know the milieu very well." Lele told Fouda. "I'm confident that you are up to the task and will be up to the expectations of the people." he added. As last piece of advice to the new servant,  governor Adolph Lele told him point blank "Your success here will depend on the collaboration and support you receive from the population, elites and local leaders"

Officials Respecting Military March Pass

The governor's message to the population, elites, politicians and traditional leaders of the division missed target because the concerned weren't there. The event was boycotted by the concerned as a ghost town operation was being observed in the entire municipality.  Circulation remained grounded,  commercial activities shutdown as the population remained indoors. This did not in anyway deter the regional boss from transmitting the message he had for them. "Dear parents,  please talk to your children,  the future of this nation that they should come back like the prodigal son to join the family for the father is ready to give them new opportunities and involve them in nation building. There is no home, family, society without problems but we all have individual and collective responsibilities to solve our problems. Therefore, give your full and unflinching support to your new SDO so that Momo Division regains it's glorious days" These were the concluding words of Adolph Lele Lafrique as he ended his installation speech. 

Divisional Delegates pose for a pic with officials 

37 years old Fouda Etaba Bernoit Nicaise was born on January 3rd 1982 in Tsek, Lekie Division,  Centre Region. After pursuing and completing his primary,  secondary,  high school and university education, he gained admission into the National School of Administration and Magistracy popularly known as ENAM in 2009 and graduated from there in 2011 after which he started working in the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reforms from 2012 to 2014 from where he was appointed as 1st Assistant S.D.O for Momo Division.  On the 22nd of May 2017, he will then be  appointed D.O of Mbengwi. Barely two years four months in office,  he was on October 7th 2019 appointed S.D.O for Momo Division and three days after,  he took over the command Barton from Absalom Monono Woloa who headed the division since 13th March 2017 till October 2019 when he was transferred to the Mbam and Inoubou Division of the Centre region in same capacity. The new Momo SDO is currently pursuing further studies in the university in criminology. He is married and a father of three kids

Attempts to get him map out his plan of action for his new area of command failed. The event wasn't void of few seemingly insignifanct security challenges as separatist fighters announced their presence from a long distance to the ceremonial ground through brief sporadic gunshots in the air, probably to inform whosoever cares that they are still existing. The population now looks forth to have a taste of the new wine in the calabash, hoping it'll be sweeter than the previous. 

Anglophone Crisis Emptying Remote Churches

Anglophone Crisis  Emptying Remote Churches

As the ongoing anglophone crisis persist, apart from the sociopolitical and economic hardship  being faced by the population,  the religious sector is also bearing the brunt. Churches in the remote areas are being emptied by the crisis as the population relocates to urban areas that are now safer.

Scanty Sunday Church Service in P.C Bessi Fomukong Congregation

Bessi Fomukong village, located about some 5 kilometres from Mbengwi central town,  chief town of Momo Division in the North West region is today getting underdeveloped because of high rural urban migration. It's Presbyterian Church in the Meta Presbytery that used to have hundreds of Christians during Sunday services can barely boast of 100 chistains these days,  most of whom are the elderly and children that should've been going to school. But while many Christians are relocating,  there are pastors that have vowed to stay back no matter what.

New Church House Construction Project for the Congregation

Rev. Njigeh Mbanwi Jonathan, pastor of Sang/Mbengeghang Parish, Meta presbytery says he prefers serving God in such remote areas because he moves, talks and eats with the people on daily basis and is facing the  crisis with them, suffering together with them but he believes God will see them through. Shepherding God's flock in the suburbs isn't a bed of roses. "I can't say there's no headache. In fact if there are no obstacles put on my way by my Christians,  I'll sleep and because of these challenges,  I'm pushed to do more research and investigation and to stand firm because it's through huddles that one is built up to stand firm" the pastor said. While many men of God have been seeking transfer from the insecured hinterlands to safer urban areas,  pastor Mbanwi Jonathan is rather contented where he is. Hear him,  "I'm very contented to be here. I know where ever God sends me,  he has a special message for me to deliver to the people of the area. So long as there are people in the area, even if it's just one person, I know God has a plan for me. That's why I'm satisfied being here"

Rev.  Njigeh Mbanwi Jonathan, Pastor,  Sang/Mbengeghang Parish,  Meta Presbytery

As a result of the internal displacement, there's also been a drop in offertory and harvest thanksgiving yet despite the economic hardship,  the few chistains left are still braving the odds to meet up with their church contributions. The Christian Women Fellowship (C.W.F) of Bessi Fomukong congregation forexample on Sunday October 13th 2019 raised over 130.000Frs via harvest thanksgiving,  far above the 90.000Frs target they had.  The congregation has even engaged in a multi-million project to construct a new church house. It is for this reason that the fon of Bessi Fomukong village, H.R.H Fomukong Wilfred is encouraging all his subjects to support the project. In his voice,  "They should know that despite the ongoing crisis,  we've struggled to put up a structure for the church but now since there are no more Christians,  we are pleading to each and every Bessi Fomukong son and daughter outside to support us so that we roof the church and continue with the finishing."

Current Church House,  P.C Bessi Fomukong Congregation

The crisis has let to many palaces being deserted. The Meta clan in Mbengwi has 31 palaces and more than half of the fons have abandoned their palaces and are now IDPs. But just like the pastor,  the fon of Bessi too has decided to stay back with his few remaining subjects. "I've not escaped because since I'm the ruler of the people, I can't go and allow them to stay alone. I must stay here in the village with them" the fon said. He's currently mobilising his subjects for community work to be carried out in the village that will involve villagers coming out to clear all roadsides in all quarters after which he plans to relaunch the weekly market in his Bessi Fomukong village known as "Kwe" market. He ended by encouraging all his subjects out of the village to feel free to return home at any time since there's calm and serenity reigning. In his words,  the village is fine.

H.R.H Fomukong Wilfred, Fon of Bessi Fomukong village,  Meta Clan, Mbengwi

After the recent holding of the Grand National Dialogue that was ordered by the Head of State, many now look forth to a quick end to the crisis so that  villagers can return to resume normal life and shutdown schools reopened so that the lost pride of the Anglophones, education, can be revived. 

RECAN 2019 Spotlights NW Cultural Heritage

RECAN 2019 Spotlights NW Cultural Heritage

"Whatever else this cultural jamboree represents,  it is for us an artistic and cultural awakening, a renaissance of arts right here at home." These were the words of Tata Patrick, representative of North West artists during the 2019 edition of the National Artistic and Cultural Season Relaunch dubbed RECAN 2019 that took place in Bamenda,  N.W region last Tuesday October 8th under the theme "Contribution of the art and culture sub section in the constant consolidation of unity, peace and harmonious living together in an emergent Cameroon."

Fire spitter

Presided at by N.W governor Adolf Lele Lafrique, the event kick started with a carnival that saw the culturally dressed artists and crafmen marching from Customs Junction to the courtyard of the NW regional delegation of culture where 23 artistic and cultural stands were mounted for the exhibition of the various arts and cultures of the North West region,  cutting across street arts, editors, literary arts, traditional games, theatre, photography, multimedia, story telling and poetry, specific arts, traditional medicine and pharmacopoeia, cinematography and audiovisual arts, plastic arts, musical arts, higher education, culinary arts alongside holders of intangible knowledge and divinatory arts.

Beats Products

The ongoing Anglophone  crisis greatly affecting the two English speaking regions of Cameroon let to the suspension of all cultural festivals like "Lela" "Ngonso" and "Abenefor" that used to be organised annually in Bali,  Nso and Mankon respectively. The crisis apart from destroying property is said to have also destroyed the culture of the North Westerners especially as instances of palaces being attacked have been recorded. The case of the Bafut palace attack is still very fresh in minds despite it being a certified UNESCO cultural heritage site during which shrines were desecrated, artifacts destroyed, some looted and other abominable acts committed by state security forces,  according to the fon of Bafut.

Culinary Arts

Traditional delicacies of the NWR

RECAN 2019 was thus a rare moment to rekindle hope in the minds of the people that no matter what, their cultural values can never be allowed to get extinct. The touristy event had paintings,  fashion designer wears,  drawings,  fibre works like baskets and bags,  carvings, traditional regalia etc on display. The North West governor Adolph Lele Lafrique and entourage visited all the stands to be schooled on  the perculiriaties of the various artistical works and how they're made.

N.W Governor Adolph Lele Lafrique Presiding at the Event

Assessing the success of the cultural jamboree, the governor  first began by appreciating the wonderful job done by the steering committee of the event. He then said "It was an occasion for me after having led the delegation of the NW region to the Major National Dialogue convened by the Head of State where issues of culture were discussed, culture being a unifying factor to still recall the role of culture in building national unity and living together in our country." He also appreciated the arts and culture men and women in the region for their formidable contributions to national unity. The governor promised them that like the Head of State said,  "Culture will not be neglected in the process of our country becoming emergent come 2035" He ended by encouraging private investors to invest in the cultural domain,  to harness cultural potentials and use it as a tool to develop our communities,  region and country.

Traditional musical instruments 

Street Arts Corner

Paintings 

Apart from the exhibition stands,  attendees were treated with a special lunch involving almost all the traditional dishes of the North West  like sweet yams and ndole, porridge plantains,  achu and black/yellow soup, corn fufu and vegetables together with palm wine. While some ate with spoons,  others ate with their fingers. The event ended with a special request from the artists for it to be staged annually in the region.

Ahead of Grand National Dialogue: Anglophones Begin Seeing Light at the End of the Tunnel

Ahead of Grand National Dialogue: Anglophones Begin Seeing Light at the End of the Tunnel

As the clock is ticking through out the territorial confines of the beautifully unique Central African country, Cameroon, unarguably described as Africa in miniature,  all heads are uniformly turning  towards the nation's political capital, Yaounde as the count down to the highly anticipated grand national dialogue tappers down to the D-day, September 30th 2019.

At the tail end of 2016, lawyers and teachers across the two English speaking regions of Cameroon took the government to task, requesting for reforms in the educational and legal systems of the country that will permit them to better practice in the language they master most. Their demands had nothing to do neither  with the form of the state nor secession.

Meanwhile proponents of secession had long been nursing ambitions of destabilizing the long reigning peace Cameroon had been priding itself of. For years they'd incessantly been looking for avenues to push through their agenda, reason why when lawyers and teachers later took to the streets during the negotiation sessions with government ministers in Bamenda and Buea that were at times ending in deadlock, these agents wasted no time to hijack the peaceful street matches from the lawyers and teachers and converted them into violent  demonstrations involving confrontations with the duty consciousness state forces. 

In defending fatherland with honour and fidelity, the military was soon taken aback when before the twinkle of an eye, incited and brainwashed youths had picked up arms, mostly Dane guns and locally fabricated pistols to face them. No nation in the world had ever folded it's arms to watch citizens pick up arms to fight the army.  Sooner, fire exchanges ensued and before long a multiplicity of non state armed groups sprouted up across the two English speaking regions. As days went by they too began gaining possession of more sophisticated firearms. 

It now became obviously clear that the bird had been dancing on the road because there was a drummer hiding in the bush. At first the secesionist fighters came like Messiah's  to repeat Moses' legacy of freeing the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land.  They were embraced,  loved,  cherished and willfully supported. No doubt on September 22nd 2017, hundreds of thousands  of Anglophone Cameroonian's took to the streets for a peaceful protest.  Some went as far as hoisting flags and nylon papers saying their imaginary country,  Ambazonia was now in existence. Images emerged on social media portraying the military accompanying the population to exercise their constitutional and civic right of peacefully demonstrating. 

Months went by till date, Ambazonia remained a white elephant dream.  The supposed Messiah's  gradually metamorphosed into the complete opposite of what they had portrayed.  The population itself was taken aback when they started facing the wrath of the fighters,  Amba Boys so they call themselves.  After successfully installing themselves on the ground,  from thence henceforth they began showing their real colours.  First they shutdown schools then imposed ghost towns afterwards, weeks of lock down. As if that wasn't enough they started kidnapping wealthy citizens and asking for ransoms worth millions and hundreds of thousands before freeing them.  Those who can't comply to their demands are killed or parts of their body chopped off.  Anybody that tries to criticise them is termed a black leg and his punishment is death or severe torture.  

In all of this,  the Head of State never stayed indifferent  to the plight of citizens in this part of the nation. He kept sending his ministers to the field to meet the people and ask them what they want.  In all the talks, they never mentioned secession. Yet the sessionists kept pushing forth their agenda. It became glaring that abuses on the ground committed by the armed fighters were masterminded from abroad.  Multiple fund raising ceremonies were organised  by some unscrupulous diaspora Cameroonians who've even picked up foreign nationalities to buy arms and send to the ground fighters.  Shockingly,  financial squabbles soon started erupting within their ranks as accusations and counter accusations of embezzlement  arose. Leadership tussles also erupted as the quest for power became the order of the day.  The angel the population thought they had became the real devil they had never wanted to ever have. 

On the 8th of September 2019, the Head of State shocked all his detractors who had judged him as a silencer.  At 8pm on state media in a 30 minutes well loaded speech,  he announced the convening of a Grand National Dialogue to discuss not only the anglophone crisis but other concerns plaguing the entire nation. The big bag announcement was received with immeasurable euphoria nationwide and beyond.  Many began seeing it as the highly sort for light at the end of the tunnel that shall get all and sundry Anglophones out of the ongoing quagmire.  In addition to the announcement he fatherly extended a hand of fellowship to leaders of the various armed groups to come to the dialogue table for as it is said,  nothing pass arrangenent.

Unfortunately there are still those who've continued to give the dog a bad name in order to hang it.  Most of such are those who see an end to the crisis as a termination of the benefits they've been reaping especially through ill gotten money. Despite the good intentions of President Paul Biya, they still carved baseless arguments like there must be s must be a neutral third party, it must take place on a neutral ground, this and that. Unfortunately all has been planned and come Monday September 30th, the big history making event shall be held at the Yaounde conference  centre with close to 400 delegates to represent the wishes of the Anglophones

Unto Bamenda a New Journalism Association is Born

Unto Bamenda a New  Journalism Association is Born

A new journalism body, christened Association of Cultural Journalists (ACJ) has seen the light of day in the N.W region of Cameroon. This was at the end of a Half-Yearly  Follow Up Workshop for Journalists of Radio, TV, Print Media and Bloggers on Reporting on Cultural Journalism that recently took place in Bamenda on the 25th and 26th of September 2019 organised by the Mbororo Social, Cultural and Development Association (MBOSCUDA) in collaboration with the North West Farmer's Organisation (NOWEFOR), funded by the European Union through United Purpose based in the United Kingdom.

ACJ N.W Pioneer EXCO

In the Month of May 2019, MBOSCUDA carried out a Training and Sensitisation Workshop for Journalists on Cultural Diversity and Cultural Rights Issues in Bamenda with objective to strengthen the capacity of media houses in order to raise more awareness and understanding of cultural diversity and cultural rights as stipulated by the international (UNESCO Convention) and national instruments ( Cameroon Government Initiatives/Policies). 

As a follow up measure to ensure the knowledge passed across and gained doesn't end in vain, a network of cultural journalists in the North West Region was formed and on the 21st of June 2019, its maiden General Assembly was held during which its official name and bylaws were adopted.

Four months after, MBOSCUDA once more rallied the earlier on trained journalists to evaluate the distance covered after the initial training with interest on work done, challenges faced, work still to be done and way forward. The follow up workshop was facilitated by Mr. Nji  Charles, a journalism consultant who evaluated the output of the journalists ever since their training and ranked their performance at 90%, considering the peculiarities of the region amidst the ongoing Anglophone Crisis after personally monitoring what they reported on radio, TV, newspapers and blogs about cultural journalism.

Participants at Follow Up Workshop

This was corroborated by Sali Usmamu, the MBOSCUDA Monitoring and Evaluation officer  who expressed satisfaction with the turnout and participation of members. Accessing the work done, he said  "Most of them have taken some steps towards incorporating intercultural dialogue in their discussions and programs as there are now interesting elements of culture which are  becoming very eminent in their programs and reports." He then ended by letting the participants know that though sustainability is very important, every project has a lifespan. Sali Usmamu assured participants that  MBOSCUDA after terminating the Bridging the Gap project will not end its cordial relationship with the media in the region. Considering the importance of communication in development, subsequent projects of the association will still involve the media in their implementation.   

At the end, an elective General Assembly of the earlier on formed network was held during which a pioneer Executive Council of the Association of Cultural Journalists (ACJ), N.W was democratically voted into office headed by Abongwa Fozo of City FM and Fawah Agatha of Abakwa  FM as Vice President. Other members of the council included Nji  Ignatius of Eden Newspaper as Secretary General, Mokom Thomas of Ndefcam Radio as Vice S.G, Philo Happi of Eden Newspaper as Financial Secretary, Ninpa Francis of Radio Hot Cocoa as Treasurer and Gnoukapasi Martial of Afrique Nouvelle Radio as Public Relations Officer. Wanchia  Cynthia of MBOSCUDA Communication Unit and Jeff Ngawe of The Reporter Newspaper were tasked the responsibility of being advisers of the EXCO.

Abongwa Fozo, ACJ N.W President

On behalf of MBOSCUDA,  members of the newly elected maiden bureau of the association were immediately installed into their various functions by Sali Usmanu who first expressed satisfaction with the gender consideration of the team before cautioning them that  "leadership begins with yourself." He  then congratulated the elected members for the confidence bestowed unto them by their peers while promising that MBOSCUDA will always be available to lend a helping hand for the betterment of the newly formed journalism association in the region. 

Legalisation modalities of the association are soon to be completed after which the body shall effectively commence work, that of upholding the practice of cultural journalism reporting and sourcing for funding for cultural journalism practices especially from international bodies like UNESCO.

COMINSUD Orientates Journalists on GBV Communication

COMINSUD Orientates Journalists on GBV Communication

An orientation workshop with radio broadcasters and social media platform actors on communication approaches and content for mass sensitization on Gender Based Violence and Sexual Reproductive Health was on Thursday September 19th 2019 held at Blue Pearl Hotel, Bamenda.

Organized by Community Initiative for Sustainable Development (COMINSUD) with funding from the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), the one day conclave brought together 35 media actors within the N.W region drawn from 10 community radio stations and 5 social media platforms to share strategies on communication that leads to changes in attitudes, behaviours and practices for GBV prevention and seeking responses for GBV survivors and those in need of Sexual Reproductive Health services.

Since the advent of the ongoing Anglophone crisis, many women, girls and children are becoming more and more vulnerable to GBV as a result of school shutdown and internal displacement leading to high risk behaviours like drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, rape and promiscuity. Several instances have been reported of state and non state fighters indulging into rape usually after drugging themselves.

The United Nations Fund for Population Assessment has since March 2018 in collaboration with the Delegations of Women Empowerment and the Family and Public Health, Medecin du Monde Suisse been carrying out different interventions like assessments, capacity building, awareness raising and direct actions to prevent and respond to GBV in the N.W region. COMINSUD is thus being supported by UNFPA to carry out extensive sensitisation, dissemination of GBV/SRH referral pathway and connect survivors as well as interested needy persons to qualified and specialized service points.

Article 1 and 2 of UN General Assembly Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women defines  Gender Based Violence as  any act that results in or likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women because of being women and to men because of being men including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.

To reestablish victims of GBV, there exists the Listening and Orientation Unit at the Bamenda Regional Hospital where all medical attention offered to rape survivors is free of charge. Moreover, the regional delegation of Women Empowerment and the Family has a Safe Space in charged of counselling and follow up, referral and provision of a dignity kit to each GBV survivor containing basic needs. Currently, there are plans to open Shelter Homes for survivors.

The workshop ended with attendees being provided a sensitisation manual on the subject, recorded spots and microprograms on Family Planning, Safe Delivery, GBV, Menstrual Hygiene, STI/HIV, T-shirts, posters and information leaflets to support community sensitisation via broadcast and social media. Broadcast agreements were also signed with the selected radio stations and social media actors that shall be carrying out the campaign.

UNESCO Trains Journalists on Migration Reporting

UNESCO Trains Journalists on Migration Reporting

Some thirty media men and women drawn from the audiovisual, print and online media in Cameroon have been intellectually edified on how to better cover and report migration stories. This was during a three day Forum on Migration Issues and Training Workshop on Investigative Journalism Techniques for Migration that took place from the 28th-30th of August 2019 in Douala.

L-R: Mr. Kassie Claude (Bureau Chief, UNHCR - Douala), Madam Bongouen Hortense (Focal Point - MINCOM), Mr. Salah Khaled (UNESCO Central Africa Regional Director)

Organized by the Multisectoral UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa as part of implementing the project “Empowering Young People in Africa through Media and Communication” with funding from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and support from the Cameroon government, the workshop attendees were schooled on how to pass unto young people, quality information on the risks of irregular migration and the opportunities they have back home in terms of entrepreneurship and employment. 

Mr. Salah Khaled, UNESCO Regional Director for Central Africa in justifying the context of the workshop said “The project is basically working with the journalists to enhance their capacities in telling the stories to young people aspiring for a possible potential future in other places outside Cameroon and aspiring to travel to Europe, hoping for a better future without knowing the risks they could face and probably perish in the Mediterranean or in other countries by showing the youths of this country and the entire Central Africa Sub Region the huge economic potentials and opportunities that they could have in their own countries.” 

Mr. Salah Khaled, UNESCO Central Africa Regional Director

After being declared open by Madam Bongouen Hortense, Focal Point personnel from the Ministry of Communication, working in collaboration with UNESCO to implement the project, participants within the three days exchanged with the various facilitators on various migration related topics and investigative journalism techniques on migration issues.

Peter Tambe of P-News Magazine had once migrated out of Cameroon only to realize the grass wasn’t actually greener on the other side of the fence as he had thought. Today, he is back to fatherland and practicing journalism. Cautioning young people on the dangers of irregular migration, he said “Staying here, you could help to build your country while going out there, it is what others tell you it is but it’s not really what you think it is. Back home, you know what it is and you can make an idea on how to build it up. Going to somebody’s land is like going to a place you’ve never seen, a place that only lives in your imagination but home is not imagination. Home might be bad like many people think but it’s not that too bad and if it’s bad, it’s for all of us to fix it up.”

Officials & Participants

Due to its geographical, socioeconomic and political peculiarities, Cameroon is an exit, entry and transit zone for migrants. Findings have shown that neither are migrants the poorest in society nor do they originate only from poor countries. Among the many reasons that provoke (irregular) migration are climate, sociopolitical instability, natural disasters, studies and the quest for better life, better opportunities.

Massabe Rafiatou, a returnee migrant is one of the many victims of irregular migration that have faced the thick and thin of the practice. Luckily, after all the hurdles encountered, she was fortunate to have been brought back to her country of origin thanks to the IOM and the Cameroon government. Today, she is gradually reintegrating herself back into the society. She now belongs to an organization that is educating youths on the risks and dangers of irregular migration. UNESCO brought her at the workshop to tell her story.

WhatsApp Groups; New Form of Social Security

WhatsApp Groups; New Form of Social Security

WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, former employees of Yahoo! Koum named the app WhatsApp to sound like "What's Up" indicating it's intended usage, for chatting. WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in over a hundred countries, according to Android device usage data. It allows you to send messages, pictures, videos and even voice recordings over the internet.

According to 99Firms.com, WhatsApp 2019: Stats and Facts show that WhatsApp has 1.5 billion active users in over 180 countries. The average user checks WhatsApp more than 23 times per day. 58% of users access WhatsApp several times per day. WhatsApp is the third most downloaded Android app in the world. WhatsApp is banned in 12 countries. Internet Live Stats estimates the Cameroonian population having access to the web  to be at 4.3 million people (out of 22 million inhabitants).

In 2015, a good chunk of the Cameroonian population most especially the youths became versed with WhatsApp following the introduction of 3G and 4G networks by mobile operators in the country thus simplifying access to the internet. When many users especially those who just bought new android phones became versed with how to create a WhatsApp group, a new trend ensued. Users started creating groups out of excitement and for adventure, adding members even without their consent to such groups. At some point in time it became a nuisance as users kept finding themselves in funny WhatsApp groups they couldn't identify themselves with. And so within ten minutes for example, 10 new persons will be added at the very time when 7 are leaving the group.

People left because they weren't consulted before being added, because the groups hadn't defined objectives or they couldn't identify themselves with the members and those that had laid down rules kept facing a major setback of the rules being broken by some recalcitrant members. Of recent, the phenomenon of creating WhatsApp groups and adding people to it has reduced.

Nowadays, it is assumed that there exist hundreds of thousands of WhatsApp groups for all walks of life: journalists, teachers, medics, lawyers, associations, churches, political parties and any other professional field one can think of. Even families now have WhatsApp groups in which family issues are discussed. Unfortunately, most  professional groups have been converted to chat groups. Even when there are calls for order to reign, such calls are often discarded. It is for this reason that in a journalism, medical, sporting, teaching group for example, often one will anxiously go online to check for latest gists only to find hundreds of unread messages which upon reading through, very little will be found concerning the profession. Instead, it will be realised that few persons had been chatting or quarreling in the group on issues that don't even concern the profession and piling up messages.

On the other hand, there are WhatsApp groups that are really meeting up with their objectives. In such, professional problems are shared and solutions provided. New discoveries and latest information concerning the profession are also shared for members to learn. It is certain these days that belonging to a WhatsApp group is seemingly unavoidable. Once you have an android phone plus internet access, be rest assured to find yourself added into a group or creating yours.

Wikipedia defines social security as "any government system that provides monetary assistance to people with an inadequate or no income." Social security may also refer to the action programs of an organization intended to promote the welfare of the population through assistance measures guaranteeing access to sufficient resources for food and shelter and to promote health and well-being for the population at large and potentially vulnerable segments such as children, the elderly, the sick and the unemployed.

Within the past years, several WhatsApp groups have been providing social security to members and non members through financial and material contributions to celebrate marriages, births, graduations etc and mourn with the bereaved, some of whom have benefited hundreds of thousands from group members. Some groups have been carrying out humanitarian responsibilities where needy cases in the society are identified, brought to the group and members contribute money to rescue the situation.

In a sports WhatsApp group like YOSA OYE AHEAD AHEAD fans and supporters of the lone division 1 club from the North West Region, Young Sports Academy have been contributing money to support their darling team. In journalism groups like Media People Bamenda MPB, Journalists of Integrity, CAMASEJ North West etc, huge amounts of money have in the past been contributed by members to support the burial, wedding or bereavement of one of theirs. Even flagship radio talkshow programs like Press & Associates aired weekly on Ndefcam Radio Bamenda on July 3rd 2019 donated a cash sum of 342.000F to the management of the Bamenda Regional Hospital as its own effort to support the  maintenance and sustainability of the recently constructed VIP modern toilets in the hospital. This  whopping amount was raised through the program's WhatsApp group coupled with other channels.

Nowadays, almost every ex student association of every school has a WhatsApp group, batch by batch. In these groups like SHESA, SABESA, LESA, SOBA, PEMEXSA, BOBA, SAJESA etc, hundreds of thousands and even millions have constantly been raised to support their alma mater, organise parties, reunions and support mates in need.

Often than not, the financial contributions are hardly ever done by up to half of the group members but the credits reaped from the positive  outcome of the gesture are often enjoyed by the entire group. The total amounts contributed are often juicy and if 3/4 of group members were to chip in their tokens, most WhatsApp groups would've been providing social security to members and non members worth hundreds of thousands and millions. Some would've been realising multimillion worth projects on the field.

On Saturday the 11th of August 2018, two nurses, Azah Nancy (wife) and Njong Padisco (husband) were murdered in Nyen village in Mbengwi central sub division and accusing fingers were pointed at government soldiers. Before being killed, the wife was pregnant and the couple left behind five children, now orphans. One year after, to mark their memorial, a WhatsApp news group Mbengwi Online through Mobile Money contributions from members raised over a hundred thousand Francs to support the education of the kids that are now without parents. This is just one of the several humanitarian works most WhatsApp groups have been carrying out.

Bakah Derick is a Bamenda based journalist. Just like any other user of social media, he belongs to several WhatsApp groups that have been of great impact to members and the society at large. Talking about the concrete realisations carried by some of the groups to which he belong, he said "WhatsApp Groups have been a great resource. I am into some serious media  professional groups in which we discuss work related issues but I have noticed a new trend with people contributing to assist others get healthcare services or during weddings. Though these contributions use to sound like freewill, I just noticed of late that people complain if the group doesn't  contribute for them when they are sick or lost someone. I have never benefited, I don't expect it though but for those who complain I think they see these groups as a source of social security."

It is for this assured social security provision that some members enjoy belonging to certain WhatsApp groups for no one knows tomorrow as they may in turn be the ones to enjoy benefits like hospital bills payment, school fees payment just to name these few after having contributed for others.