Mbengwi Breathes, Momo Division Regains Life

Mbengwi Breathes, Momo Division Regains Life

The Momo Divisional Headquaters, Mbengwi in the North West Region of Cameroon is reported to be speedily regaining its normal life. In the advent of the escalation of the current sociopolitical impasse in the two English speaking regions of the country, inhabitants who escaped to other areas for safety due to fear of the unknown and insecurity have been returning to regain their daily activities. At the Mbon Motor Park, Mile 18 Mbengwi, the economic hub of the sub division, its business as usual. Peddlers have been crisscrossing the streets with their goods, township taxis and commercial motor bikes are back on the bumpy roads.

A Bird's Eye View of Mbon Motor Park on a Normal Day

Tanah Felix has been earning a living out of bike ridding in Mbengwi for over five years now. To him, as compared to the recent past, things are getting better especially as he can now access bush roads that were hitherto blocked. "I can now make about 5.000F a day." he said. It should be recalled that prior to the last presidential election of October 7th 2018, all the major roads into and out of the 31 villages that make up the Meta Clan in Mbengwi were blocked with tree trunks by separatist fighters. The transport sector was completely grounded. Business came to a standstill.

Tanah Felix, Commercial Motor Bike Ridder

Mah Roseline is a trader in the Mbon Main Market, Mbengwi. She opined that business is still timid as many persons are still in the bushes. "We used to close at 6 O'Clock but because of the curfew, at times we start packing by 4pm" she said and wished that the regional governor could lift the dusk to dawn curfew he imposed so that business can boom again. "It's not even showing that we are in December" she ended. As if she was being heard in high offices, the N.W Regional Governor, Lele Lafrique on Saturday November 24th 2018 signed an order shifting the commencement time of the security restriction that was placed on the movement of persons and goods within the region from 6pm to 9pm. This was applauded in several quarters especially as they had been loud cries from citizens for the regional boss to readjust the curfew time.

Mah Roseline, Businesswoman

Tata Erasmus, another Mbengwi based businessman, castigated propagators of fake news on social media about insecurity in Mbengwi. To him, quite often fake news is spread online that Mbengwi is deserted meanwhile normal life is on going. He affirmed that life in Mbengwi is livable yet propagators of fake news keep blowing false alarms of how the town is unlivable. On November 22nd, one of the fake news that was spread on WhatsApp groups read thus:

ALERT MBENGWI

8 LRC mil. trucks stationed dere now ready 2 attack all camps. Pple along the tracks, go away NOW

But from investigations, according to administrative sources, some military trucks actually entered Mbengwi on the said day to carry away the household items of some uniform elements that had been redeployed out of Mbengwi and not for any attack per se. Tata Erasmus however admitted that life is still somehow difficult. He said, "There are days we get up and hear gunshots. We simply close our shops and return home. There are days life goes on normally."

Tata Erasmus, Businessman

The return to normalcy is not only centralised within Mbengwi town. Down in the suburbs, life is reported to also be regaining steam there. The historic Tad market in Nyen village, located about some 5km from the divisional headquarters is said to be bouncing back. The market stopped functioning about six months back after human and material losses were recorded when government troops engaged separatist fighters in serious gun battles. Tad market was the battle ground.

"Compared to other places I've been to like Fundong and Wum, I'll say life in Mbengwi is calm." This is the view of Evangelist Abanda Edwin,  a resident who added that the rumours on social media are not quite accurate because so far, people have been able to open their stores and carry on their normal daily activities unperturbed. He alluded this serenity to the good governance of the Senior Divisional Officer for Momo and his administration. He regretted that there are still many uninhabited compounds within the sub division whose initial occupants have abandoned not because of any real security threat but rather because of fright caused by blowers of false alarms on the internet. "We have been here since the crisis started and we are still alive and strong. Despite the relative peace and problems that we have here and there, compared to other places, we are thanking God the situation is calming down while hoping for the much needed peace that we've been crying for to come in few days or months." he added. Asked if he feels secured in Mbengwi, he responded in the affirmative. This he justified by saying he's able to walk around freely and go about his normal life with neither any uniform officer accompanying him nor anybody disturbing him. "I must say that the peace is relative in the sense that we still have problems but such come up only once in a while and they are often not huge to disturb the whole town but just a part." he ended.

Abanda Edwin, Evangelist

His views were shared by Mr. Nyudze David, a civil servant working at the Momo Divisional Delegation of Basic Education. To him, Mbengwi is regaining its strength as those who had escaped are returning. He corroborated the opinion of Abanda Edwin by adding that this is because of the collaboration between the administration and the military in Mbengwi as opposed to other places where the military is taking the law into its hands and causing havoc thereby frightening many people to escape. Nyudze David confirmed life is better in Mbengwi compared to other areas. He went on to say "The administration gives directives on how the military should operate and that's why there's relative calm and peace." He concluded by testifying that normally, not all who had been displaced will return because some have come across greener pastures in Douala, Yaounde and other towns.

Nyudze David, Civil Servant

Just like in Mbengwi, normal life is reported to also be returning to the other Sub Divisions in Momo Division like Njikwa, Widikum, Batibo, Ngie. Cho Clovis is a  preacher from Andek in Ngie. Painting a picture of how life is in his area, he said its not been easy because all roads are blocked thus making survival difficult. He added that the people are really suffering because they don't have a market as the ones they had before were all destroyed. In a moody tone, he articulated that, "As a pastor, I only hope that God will intervene in this situation and help us because some people are really suffering a lot, not just in Ngie but elsewhere also." On whether or not normalcy is returning to Ngie in the midst of the crisis, he confirmed it is but at a very slow rate because some of the roads that were blocked have been reopened and people are managing to go through even though moving with a lot of fear. "I really wish that normalcy should return. If I'm to give a message to anyone out there from Ngie especially from Andek, I'll advise them to come back home." he ended.

Cho Clovis, Andek-Ngie Inhabitant

As testified by all those  interviewed, the normalcy now reigning is very much cherished and they wished it remains as such forever. The Meta Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon recently joined the rest of her Christians nationwide to commemorate the 61st edition of the P.C.C's independence from the Basel Mission in Switzerland. Two weeks after, the Christian Women Fellowship of the Presbytery met on the school field of the Presbyterian Teacher's Training College Mbengwi for its 2018 annual rally. The massive turnout at these two religious eventd was clearly indicative of the fact that the population is once more feeling comfortable with life at home.

P.C.C Women Rally at Mile 19

Mbengwi Council Holds 2019 Budgetary Session

Mbengwi Council Holds 2019 Budgetary Session

Close to 10 councillors out of 25 were absent from the session, some without sending a proxy. It is assumed these are those with no intentions of renewing their mandate come 2019. Thus, they took insecurity as an excuse for absenting.  The 2019 Budgetary Account Session of the Mbengwi Council was held last Friday November 9 2018 in the council hall. The budgetary account is a working document that provides a provisional view of an expected revenue and expenditure management guide.

In her welcome address, Mayor Tebe Beatrice regretted that the current crisis has caused an untoward effect that challenges every aspect of life: social, economic and political not only in Mbengwi but the entire division, region and country. This has grossly affected local input and output. She however remained optimistic that as nothing lasts forever, government will soon ensure an enabling atmosphere.

L-R: Fouda Nicaise (D.O), Absalom Monono (S.D.O), Tebe Beatrice (Mayor)

The two days event started on Thursday November 8th with an All Committees Meeting whose deliberations and resolutions were then reported to the proper session that was held the next day. Designated spokespersons of the Health & Education, Natural Resources, Embellishment, Works & Transport, Finance committees each took turns to report on their observations since after the last session. Each report was followed by reactions and comments. The project to purchase a hearse for the council mortuary and open a council radio station came under strong scrutinisation. The S.D.O, Absalom Monono kicked against them on basis that Mbengwi is already having several business persons dealing in funeral services and that there's already a privately owned radio station within the municipality added to the multiple ones in Bamenda town and beyond whose waves are well received in Mbengwi.   He encouraged the council to involve its budget in fixed investments for income generation like opening up more markets, real estate business and not perishable investments like buying of cars that will rather demand more money to run and maintain. To Monono, when investing in a project, focus should first be on the social importance before the anticipated economic gains.

He frowned at civil servants taking advantage of the crisis not to work on false basis of insecurity, contrary to business persons who know that if they don't open their shops, they won't eat. He regretted why a whole divisional headquarters like Mbengwi, one of the oldest in the entire nation and the closest to Bamenda, the regional headquarters will not have a single Nigerian or Bamileke business magnet in the Mbon main market. He said it point blank that the Meta people don't have an open door policy. That they prefer to confiscate all the sheds in the Mbon main market and use them as parking stores rather than allow "foreigners" to come in and own the sheds. This, contrary to other areas like Ndop where the Bamilekes are the ones that have championed the economic and infrastructural development of the area.

Councillors & Service Heads in Session

On the issue of Tad market that stopped functioning with the escalation of the current crisis, the S.D.O, D.O, Mayor and Councillors were all unanimous in deciding to reawaken the Meta people's historical Tad market in Nyen village. Other mushroom markets were already sprouting up around Mile 19, Njindom, Mile 18 and other areas because of the collapse of Tad market. To match words with action, on the 12th of November 2018, the Divisional Officer for Mbengwi, Fouda Etaba Bernoit Nicaise signed a communiqué compelling all vendors and buyers to immediately stop the mushroom markets and return to the original Tad market site in Nyen village. It should be recalled that business persons abandoned the market more than six months back after government troops engaged separatist fighters there in fierce battles that resulted to killings and burnings.

The icing on the cake of the recently held Mbengwi Council budgetary account session was the presentation of a Nation Builder's Award to Mayor Tebe Beatrice by NewsWatch newspaper as Cameroon's Best Female Mayor for instilling transparency in council management and championing development in the Mbengwi municipality. Reacting to the distinctive recognition,  Mayor Tebe Beatrice née Mbamuku Nduku said "An award of this nature is something that goes to motivate. It is the collaboration that we have as councillors that has pushed Mbengwi Council into the limelight. I thank them so much." With every sign of joy and happiness in her heart, she added that "Hopefully as Mbengwi Council is being known from place to place, our needs will be met and we shall grab the fruits of our labour."

Mayor Tebe Beatrice Awarded Best Female Mayor in Cameroon

Before the S.D.O closed the session, councillors empowered the mayor to formerly recruit a Public Relations Officer, Library Attendant and Night Watch Man, transform biodegradable waste into manure, travel to seek for more partnership and funding whenever requested by the state.

While closing the session after successful deliberations, the S.D.O for Momo Division, Absalom Monono Woloa booed at councillors and workers that had taken residence out of Mbengwi even when the atmosphere is calm thus making them (administrators) feel abandoned and lonely. Hear him,  "We cannot continue to give the impression to the rest of the country and the world that Momo Division in general and Mbengwi in particular is the worst place to live in by continuing to be roving ambassadors of our municipality." He however attracted a thunderous round of applause from the councillors when he told the returnees "Welcome back and know that your presence is going to give us hope and equally to your population." Monono proceeded to congratulate the council executives and councillors for being the first within the division to hold a budgetary session for 2019 within the prescribed time as provided for by Law No. 2004/017 of 22nd July 2004.

L: Gwain Willibroad (Municipal Treasurer) & R: Ndokonyi Musa (Council S.G)

As supervisory authority of the council, Monono called on the council executives, councillors and council workers to engage and join the administration in the campaign of calling all inhabitants that had left the municipality to return home  and to encourage the effective functioning of businesses and resumption of schools. "We should rise above fear and put on the determination to serve our people whose only wish is to have a better life" he told the councillors.

The Mbengwi Council budget for the year 2019 is balanced in income and expenditure at the sum of 699, 274, 465 (Six hundred and ninety nine million, two hundred and seventy four thousand, four jundred and sixty five) FCFA.

P.S.S Nkwen Abductions; Fru Ndi Tasks N.W Governor & MINAT Boss to Expose the Hidden Truth Behind the Drama

P.S.S Nkwen Abductions; Fru Ndi Tasks N.W Governor & MINAT Boss to Expose the Hidden Truth Behind the Drama
(Dedicated to Mimi Mefo, Equinox TV Journalist Detained at New Bell Prison, Douala)

Ni John Fru Ndi, National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, S.D.F, the main opposition party in Cameroon was speaking to the press last Wednesday November 7th 2018 during an event organised by the North West Regional Governor, Lele Lafrique Tchoffo Deben Adolphe to officially present the abducted students of Presbyterian Secondary School, Nkwen after they were rescued from the hands of their kidnappers by the military, according to government sources. At the end of the brief session that took place at the Regional Delegation of Secondary Education, Up Station Bamenda, Fru Ndi tasked the regional governor and the Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul to speak the truth, at least for once. To him, there's a double game being played somewhere by someone unknown individuals. "Who is trying to deceive who? What are we hiding? Let the truth come out. Let the governor and his authorities here tell us what is happening. Let the Minister of Territorial Administration tell the North Westerners what is happening" Fru Ndi vomited.

Ni John Fru Ndi, S.D.F National Chairman

He went ahead to say "they" already killed a lecturer and am American missionary in Bambili. To him, Bamenda was becoming the centre of education and now "they" want to destroy it. "All the problems we are facing now started because the educational authorities said there was something wrong with the educational system and for the problems to be resolved 'they' are currently destroying everything that is of education in the North West" Fru Ndi added. Without any fear or favour, he continued by saying "The North West is being destroyed by the government not by Ambazonians"

78 of the 82 abducted students and staff members of the school were freed three days after the incidence took place. According to Mr. Affuh Stephen, National President of the Presbyterian Educational Authority Teacher's Trade Union, PEATTU, they were released by their captors and taken to Presbyterian Church  Nsem in Bafut where they were abandoned and later rescued by the military. "As a trade union leader, I am consoled that these innocent children have been released but my heart bleeds because my colleagues (teachers) are yet to be released. We don't know their fate as of now" he articulated.

Affuh Stephen, PEATTU National President

From their very dirty appearance, it was obvious the students went through hardship. Almost all were in night wears indicative that there were woken up from sleep and forcefully taken to the unknown area. "Honestly speaking, I am really devastated and feeling very sorry when I look at the appearance of these children given that they were taken away from school early Sunday morning breaking Monday under very appalling conditions" Affuh Stephen lamented. Circumstances surrounding their successful abduction from Nkwen to Bafut at night, a time expected to be under the full control of the military is still setting tongues wagging. Ni John Fru Ndi wondered how a whole bus will drive into a school and carry over 80 humans and the curfew does not get them meanwhile about three weeks ago, his driver was shot at by the police on his left ankle at about 6:15pm because he was found on the streets after 6pm. The PEATTU National President had a better insight into what really transpired. He recounted that from his findings, the abductors tried to take away the abductees in a vehicle that got broken. Finally the children were driven as a herd of cattle to where they were kept, he revealed.

After seeing her lost but found kid, one of the joyous parents recounted how upon getting the sad news, she went straight into reading Psalms 23 which assured her that although her daughter will walk through the valley of death, she shall fear no evil because the staff of God will comfort her. She understood life is full of hurdles and so cultivated hope and trust in God because He has never failed and will never.

Happy Parent Whose Daughter Was Released

The S.D.F National Chairman will later move into comparing the past and present. He recalled how Kamto declared himself winner of the just ended presidential election and ended up being arrested only to be released the next day but when he, Fru Ndi won the elections in 1992, he was held under house arrest for three months and mayhem rained on the Bamenda people. "I am an Anglophone and the Anglophone problem hurts me right in the heart because I am not being given my due rights in this country" he yelled.

N.W governor, Adolph Lele Lafrique addressing the media persons said of the 82 abducted, four persons are still missing (two students and two staff members) but all is being done to get them back. He also announced the release of the D.O of Noni that was abducted days back even before the Nkwen incidence. He went further to ask the population to rally behind the head of state so that together, normalcy can be brought back to the region provided all those wrongly involved in the fight against the state surrender. This to Fru Ndi was baseless because no guarantee was given for their safety. He wondered aloud why President Paul Biya is able to negotiate with Boko Harams who aren't even Cameroonians but can't appease his own hurt citizens. The governor ended by promising that, in his words, "While waiting for the situation to come back to long lasting normalcy, the curfew will soon be lifted provided we all join hands together with our security services, traditional rulers and administrative authorities to help the situation"

As to the way forward, Mr. Affuh Stephen thinks the educational system shouldn't be held hostage in this situation. "Schools, churches and hospitals are no go zones in times of crisis like this" he cautioned. He ended by making reference to a recently released communiqué from the moderator's office indicating that the P.C.C will be forced to suspend its schools because of insecurity. In the communiqué, the moderator called on both separatist fighters and the government to provide adequate security so that schools can go on without which the only option will be to shut them down.

At press time, P.S.S Nkwen has been temporarily shut down. After hard negotiations, parents have been permitted to take their kids back home and wait till further notice.

To Perform at Funerals, Dance Groups Now Managing "Matango" in the Absence of Beer

To Perform at Funerals, Dance Groups Now Managing "Matango" in the Absence of Beer

As the current anglophone crisis continue to escalate, more and more facets of the society are increasingly being negatively affected. Insecurity coupled with the dusk to dawn curfew imposed by the North West Regional Governor has drastically reduced the celebration part of funerals. Nowadays, there's often no time to carry out all the funeral rights that were performed in the past when normalcy reigned.

According to Mr. Ndakwa James, a custodian of the Meta culture, in the the past, deaths in Meta were celebrated for about three days or one week but today because of the crisis, celebrations no longer take up to a day. "Now we burry some of the people these days, we don't even celebrate because of fear and insecurity." he said.

Masquerades Dancing

Many of the funeral rites have now been either modified or abandoned. As a result of the crisis, many persons including family heads and successors have died and been buried in far off areas and foreign lands due to no means of transporting their mortal remains to where their navels were planted. Unfortunate ones have died in the bushes and their corpses fed on by birds and animals. Can a spell befall a family because its member wasn't given a befitting burial? A question I posed to Mr. Ndakwa James. "We cannot say there'll be any effects because we haven't seen and buried the corpse. Unless you bury some body before all those traditional rites can be performed." He responded. He added that it was believed in those days something terrible will happen because burials were done according to ancestral lineage. But today since the corpses killed by any means are not seen or brought back to the family compound, there'll be no effects because they've not been buried the normal way during which such rites would've been performed.

It is now common these days to see mourners at funerals dispersing immediately after burial especially those from afar. The interest in food and drinks has reduced. Priority is now given to safety. No one dares to bare the risk of not being home before 6pm. A lot has changed culturally. Traditional dance groups that used to demand crates of beer before performing at funerals are now adapting to changing times. In the absence of the crocodile, they have no choice than to manage the lizard. Le Brasseries du Cameroun drinks have been banned by separatist fighters in the two English speaking regions.

Children Who Should be Going to School Now Dancing at Funerals

Mr. Ngu Emmanuel Meneme is of the Sang Mukonge Dance Group. To him, since beers like Export, Mutzïg (without any publicity) etc are no longer in circulation, their new condition is that the bereaved reserves palm wine otherwise known as "Matango", " Mbuh", "Fuchuh" for their dance group as one of the conditions to perform.

Interestingly though pathetic, children who should be going to school are now forming their own dance groups to perform at funerals so as to entertain the crowd, make some money and learn their culture. Not only did the separatist fighters prohibit the selling and consumption of Brasseries drinks which they now classify as contraband goods, they also prohibited the functioning of schools.

Young "Juju" Dance

The decision of closing down schools for over two years now  has been highly condemned both nationally and internationally. The government of Cameroon has been fighting hard to see into it that schools effectively resume all over the two restive English speaking regions yet, little successes has since been recorded only in the urban towns. In the rural areas, school campuses are now hunting grounds. Teachers have diverted to other sources of livelihood while pupils and students are increasingly getting duller as days go by. Only few fortunate ones are able to relocate to areas where classes are effectively on going.

Anglophone War; Can Peace Return Via Football?

Anglophone War; Can Peace Return Via Football?

Gunshots, cries of the bereaved, panic, internal displacement and psychological trauma are what have characterised the atmosphere in Anglophone Cameroon for the past two years and still counting. Public gatherings are now dreaded because  where two or three are gathered, there is often fear of an imminent attack either by government forces or separatist fighters. Such are often unfounded because almost all gatherings end well as they started.

In the midst of these challenges, youths in Mbengwi Central Sub Division have decided to shun fear and go about their normal life unperturbed while respecting the law. One of the best ways to relief youths from the stress of  the fear of the unknown is to unite and engage them in what they like doing most. Because football is a unifying game, it was for this reason that Mile 17 F.C and Mbengwi Veterans  met on the G.S Chigwiri football field for a friendly encounter last Saturday October 3rd  2018. Though intended to be an amicable match, the game ended up producing lots of fireworks.

Seta Beats of Mbengwi Veteran 

Seta Withgodep Viertz artistically known as Seta Beats is a player for Mbengwi Veterans. To him, peace can be sought for through football. "Sports has no boundary. It's a medium to unite youths especially and bring peace, love and promote young talents among us" he said.

To Mundi Hope of Mile 17 F.C, it wasn't an easy encounter especially as it was more of beginners meeting old brooms in the game but they proved their worth. He said "Though they are older than us, experienced and professional in the way they played, we tried our best too because we are a young team. I tried to put my boys together so we can become stronger. It wasn't that easy but hopefully next time we will do better." Asked if there was any special message he was sending across through football with the current crisis, he said "Yes, for sure because it's a game of love, it's a game that brings people together which means that if football is given a place, then love can lead and obviously, they'll be peace."

Player for Mile 17 F.C in a Spectacular Hard Trick

At the blast of the final whistle by the central referee, the score line situation stood at 4 goals on  either sides giving a total of 8 goals scored during the encounter.

Touembeng, Mbengwi; Mbororos Pounce on their Meta Brothers, Blood Flows, Village Deserted

Touembeng, Mbengwi; Mbororos Pounce on their Meta Brothers, Blood Flows, Village Deserted

Touembeng otherwise called Mbengeghang, located about some 8km away from the town of Mbengwi is one of the quarters that make up Guneku, the biggest village in the Meta clan of Mbengwi Central Sub Division. Its hilly nature and vast evergreen vegetation attracts the Mbororos who by nature are grazers. History has it that the place was long inhabited by the Metas before the nomads later came in. Since then, they had been living together in conviviality though with minute differences not until last Wednesday October 17 2018 when forces of darkness descended on the Mbororos.

Mr. Fokwah Eric is one of the victims of the attack. Narrating what happened, he explained that on that fateful day the indigenes were going about their daily life of farming and business when out of a sudden, they noticed a good number of angry looking Mbororo boys moving towards them, some on horsebacks. They were armed with sticks, swords and locally fabricated guns. Accusing the Metas of killing one of their boys, they pounced on them with the sticks and swords, wiping and inflicting wounds on their bodies. "I had a small provision store. They scattered all the items in it and carried some away. They burnt my motorbike." This he said while shaking his head almost in tears. Eric went ahead to narrate that he was fathering a huge family of 27 members, most of whom were Internally Displaced Persons that came in from the South West Region. At moment, he doesn't know their whereabout since everybody had to escape to various directions for safety. The attackers break into all the houses and scattered their contents. He said he recognised all of them. Some came in from Tugi, Dom and other Mbororo inhabited areas of Meta to join their colleagues of Touembeng to carry out the attack.

Mr. Fokwah Eric, Victim

He was speaking to this reporter from a health facility whose location he requested not to be revealed. It is here that he is receiving treatment for the several machete cuts he  sustained on his head. Speaking on basis of anonymity, the lone nurse in the facility attending to some of the victims said the five cases that came to her had very deep wounds. So she had to do three layers of stitching as a temporal measure. Though free from danger, she plans to refer them to a bigger hospital for scanning especially those who had wounds on their heads when the pains subside.

Mr. Ndingwan Primus, Guneku Traditional Council Chairman

Mr. Ndingwan Primus is the Chairman of the Guneku Traditional Council. He said when he got the news that his people had been attacked, he immediately contacted the Ardo (Muslim leader) of Touembeng, a certain El-Haji Manu for first hand information on what transpired but unfortunately, he babbled with his words though assuring him that he's seeking for quick reconciliation so that peace returns. "The destruction level is high. With houses burnt, machines and generators burnt, food destroyed, I wonder how the peace will come about. I wonder if he will provide back all what's been damaged" said the chairman. We took them as our brothers. They form part of the population of Guneku. Look at what they did to us". He ended by saying an emergency council meeting has been called to look into the problem.

Mrs. Constance Ngwe, Victim

From findings, secessionist fighters of the Ambazonia Defence Force picked up one of the Mbororo boys from the area whom they tagged as a black leg to the struggle, took him to Mundum in Bafut Sub Division and killed. In retaliation, the Mbororos had to attack the Metas of the area whom they accused to have connived with the separatist fighters. A total of 12 persons were injured in the attack but no death recorded. They are receiving treatment in different health facilities. The area has been completely deserted by the Meta indigenes who are now seeking refuge in neighbouring villages like Munam, Sang and Bessi Fomukong.  The Mbororos up the hills are reported to be in discord now among themselves because many had objected to any such attack. Latest reports say bike riders that used to carry food like corn, rice, flower from Njindom and Mbengwi to the Mbororos on the Touembeng hills have stopped doing so again as a sign of solidarity with the victims. The Mbororos too can't come down for fear of a retaliatory attack. The wish of many now is that the issue be amicably resolved as fast as possible so that peace returns. With the traditional council and leaders of the Mbororos meeting soon, there's hope for a better tomorrow.

If You Dare Abandon... "Amba" Boys Threaten Contractors in Momo Division

If You Dare Abandon... "Amba" Boys Threaten Contractors in Momo Division

Members of the Momo Divisional Performance Follow-up Committee for the evaluation of projects executed from the Public Investment Budget have been called upon to step up their game and give the division the much needed development it deserves. The call was made by the Senior Divisional Officer for Momo Division, Absalom Monono Woloa as he chaired the committee's third quarterly meeting in the conference hall of the Divisional Delegation of MINEPAT Mbengwi last Thursday October 18 2018. The committee met to evaluate the level of financial and physical realisation and evaluate if recommendations of the last meeting were executed.

The S.D.O in his opening statement congratulated economic operators, project owners and engineers, for the little efforts they put in before the last meeting, during which physical realisation rate stood at 10.51%. To him, this was better than zero. He however frowned at lazy and dubious contractors that are now hiding behind the Anglophone crisis under the pretext of insecurity to abandon or play foul with projects. He also strongly condemned the separatists fighters for having instilled fear in the people and crumbled the economy. Monono warned the committee members that if they don't meet up with effective realisation by the end of the year, then they would be guilty of contributing to the hardship faced by the population. He ended by advising the stakeholders to talk to the boys in the bushes and school them that destroying public property isn't doing harm to any institution said to be the state but to themselves. That when they cut roads, destroy bridges, network and electricity poles, burn schools etc, it's not the state that suffers. The people in the said area including the fighters pay the price. 

L-R: Div. Del., MINEPAT, S.D.O (Absalom Monono), Committee President (Hon. Edna Mbah), Div. Treasurer (Madam Foncham)

The president of the Momo Divisional Follow-up Committee is Honourable Edna Enih Mbah, Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency. She enjoined project owners and engineers to be able to talk of advancement during the next meeting while promising that the committee will move to the field in the days ahead to ascertain the actual level of work being done by the contractors. She frowned at most mayors and technical service heads within the division that have continued to underrate the importance of attending such meetings. For instance only the mayor of Mbengwi was present during the meeting though she came late. The rest either send their Council Development Officers or other representatives who are often handicap with information required of them.

Just like the S.D.O, the M.P regretted that the terrain has really been rough to the point where a certain Mr. Mbah, a popular contractor in Mbengwi was attacked and killed in Widikum, months back while on the field to supervise a project. He was mistaken for a spy by separatist fighters in the bushes and eliminated. Despite this regrettable incidence coupled with other fallouts of the sociopolitical crisis that have greatly destabilised the execution of projects, she still encouraged all, mostly owners of projects of purchases (council projects below five million) to be committed for such are often either at 0% or 100% realisation. In her words, "We know that we have social tension. Those involved in these projects, both beneficiaries and executors must get down to work because we aren't going to take any administrative dispensations that will favour anybody that hasn't done the right thing. We the beneficiaries must welcome these projects because it is our own share of the national cake. While we hope for a bigger share, let's appreciate the one we have because better days are ahead " she ended.

Service Heads 

Madam Nkempu Njonguo Catherine Atendemen is the Momo Divisional Delegate of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT).  She observed that as at now, physical realisation rate of projects within the division stands at 21.04% but regrettably, most divisional projects are effectively being executed while almost all projects owned by mayors are at 0% execution. She warned that because the finance budget will be closed by November 30th,  stakeholders must do everything humanly possible to finish what is left undone without which disappointment shall be their portion.

While closing the meeting, the Momo S.D.O  once more called to order, dubious contractors that are trying to take advantage of the crisis situation and swindle state funds for little or no work done. He insisted that the local authorities like mayors, elites, traditional and religious leaders must stay back in their communities and face the challenges rather than escape to urban areas thus leaving their population at the mercy of activists. He directly compared and contrasted the situation of Ngie with that of Batibo. In the former, all the elites, mayor and other leaders have escaped. Because of this, the separatist fighters took advantage and vandalised the council building, solar plant, network antenna, D.O's residence and other buildings. To Monono, if they had stayed back and talked to the boys even in the vernacular, they won't have shot themselves in the legs because the sufferers now are the community not the government as they think. He insisted that local authorities seeking refuge in cities can't claim not to know these boys. As he put it, "They are your boys. Talk to them".

Madam Nkempu Njonguo Catherine Atendemen, Momo's Div. Del., of MINEPAT

In the latter (Batibo), the case is different. Monono advised the other mayors within the division to copy the example of their colleague of Batibo, Tanjoh Fridrick. Batibo has been one of the highest hit sub divisions in the face of the on going crisis yet the mayor has not escaped. The sub division has been hosting many separatist fighters' camps. The military has been attacking there severally destroying the camps. Despite these, the mayor stayed back and was rather assisting in burying corpses. As a result, Monono revealed that many of the "Amba" boys in Batibo as they are fondly called have been coming to their senses. They've realised that the property they are destroying is theirs. The community pulled resources together and erected such buildings, dug the roads. So destroying them is like shooting one's self. In effect, the strategy has changed. Even in the midst of the crisis, the execution of public contracts is effectively going on in several parts of Batibo sub division. A case in point is a school in Bessi Awum where Amba boys have warned the contractor to ensure that he does good work else they "deal" with him. To Monono, nobody should think that he or she can escape from death because death is everywhere.

In other not to face resistance from the beneficiaries, Absalom Monono Woloa advised that mayors must avoid using only contractors that are their close friends and relatives. Again, contractors must avoid bringing only their own labour to execute a project in a community. The locals must be involved. Let them benefit financially in the implementation by probably clearing, digging and other mean jobs, then the success of the project will be guaranteed. If the community has qualified technicians like plumbers, builders, electricians etc, they must be integrated into the project without which  they will resist its realisation or distance themselves away from it for no one will like to miss an opportunity to make money

Before his final words, he proposed that from now henceforth the Delegation of Environment, Nature  Protection and Sustainable Development must be involved in the drawing up and execution of projects so as to carry out environmental impact assessment. After introducing the new Divisional Financial Controller in the person of Mr. Tangwan Derrick to the attendees, he then ended by announcing that in implementing effective decentralisation, the state has already transfered powers and competencies to the councils of Widikum, Batibo and Mbengwi to be responsible for the cleaning of roadsides.

Mbengwi; What Went Wrong? No Network, Water, Light, Road

Mbengwi; What Went Wrong? No Network, Water, Light, Road

The population of Mbengwi, headquarters of Momo Division in the N.W region of Cameroon is yet to come to terms with  what crime it committed to deserve such unheard of punishment. Before the last presidential election of October 7 2018, MTN and Orange networks were completely cut off. Many quarters underwent acute water crisis.  The town became deserted, seemingly not fit for human habitation. Fortunately, contrary to unfounded fear of the unknown, the election day passed hitch free. Runaway inhabitants started resurfacing from their hideouts. Many heaved a sigh of relief that at last normal life was returning. They went about their daily activities with much fanfare. Little did they know that every finishing line is the beginning of a new race. Like in Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge, "Happiness was but an occasional episode in a general drama of pain".

Recharging Phones, 100, 150, 200F

As the saying goes, "It never rains but it pours". In addition to the general network failure and no pipe borne water in many quarters, an unannounced power cut last Wednesday October 17 came in to make a bad situation worse. Things moved from frying pan to fire. For three days and nights, the population returned to the dark ages. Since every disappointment is a blessing, few businessmen began making money out of the unfortunate situation. These were those who had generators. Recharging of phones, power banks and other gadgets was levied between 100 and 200Frs. Some made more than 10.000F from the power failure. In electronics shops, the demand for solar lamps, torches and power banks increased tremendously. Repairers of generators made real cash as almost all hitherto bad and malfunctioning generators were brought out for repairs.

Cars With Goods & Passengers Stranded at the Mbon Motor Park, Mile 18, Mbengwi

On the other side were the losers. These were mostly cold store owners. Fish and other seafoods got bad in the fridges. As if that was not enough, the worst was still to come. On Saturday morning, news came in that separatist fighters had blocked the Bamenda-Mbengwi highway. Mr. Katu Joel, an inhabitant of Mbengwi  narrated what transpired that as early as 6:15am in the morning of Saturday 20th October, he was already at a place called C-Bend at Alabukam, Mankon in his car on his way to Bamenda for a business trip. He bumped on the fighters in their numbers blocking the road. All they told him was to make a U-turn, a command he obeyed without complaining. That was how the rest of the cars that were already en route to Bamenda began making U-turns too.

Many vehicles in their numbers with goods and passengers became stranded at Mbon Motor Park, Mile 18 Mbengwi and Hospital Roundabout, Bamenda. This wasn't the first time the road was being blocked by the separatist fighters. On several occasions they've done so but the military always intervened quickly to reopen the roads for circulation. This was the thought that many had, that in a matter of few minutes, the military will reopen the road for traffic flow to resume. Little did they know that this time around, the formula had changed.

Generators Pending Repairs

For hours upon hours the cars waited and waited yet no hope. Gossips went round that apart from blocking the road, the fighters also planted fetish objects on the spot. Combat ready uniform officers actually left Mbengwi in three fully loaded trucks herding towards Bamenda probably to the scene to intervene. It was not until about 4:15pm that the first car entered Mbengwi from Bamenda. The road had finally been reopened and again rumours went wild that the separatist fighters that had blocked the road were the very ones that reopened it because the fetish objects they planted were dreadful. How true this is, no one can tell with certainty.

At press time, smiles have returned to the faces of the inhabitants of Mbengwi. The road has been reopened, power supply has been reinstated, MTN and Orange networks have been reestablished, clean water is once more flowing from the taps that were previously dry. But the question is, for how long will this last before the next episode of the drama?

CAMASEJ N.W Schooled on Non Violent Communication

CAMASEJ N.W Schooled on Non Violent Communication

Members of the North West Chapter of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) have been schooled on Non Violent Communication. This was during a one day workshop that took place on Wednesday October 17 2018 in the conference hall of the Pedagogic In Service Training Program, Ntamulung, Bamenda facilitated by Mr. Dzebam Godlove Ayaba, a yet to be certified Non Violent Communication trainer.

Opening the workshop, Mr. Wembong Emmanuel, Pedagogic Adviser for Bamenda Station told attendees that in order to fight hate speech, journalists must work on their communication. He thanked CAMASEJ N.W for always partnering with their institution for such knowledge acquisition sessions. The Pedagogic In Service Training Program deals in environmental education, life skills and democracy in schools.

Mr. Dzebam Godlove, Main Facilitator

According to Mr. Dzebam Godlove, Non Violent Communication is a language of the heart started by Martial Rosenberg, a Jewish American who could neither be integrated into the American society because of his Jewish background nor by the the Blacks because they considered him a White. He said "It's about building a compassionate relationship with your neighbours, children and everyone in the society." He went ahead to disclose that it's about being real not nice because to him, most of the troubles in the world are caused by nice people.

Non Violent Communication begins with the process of Observation (sight, smell, taste, hear) followed by Feeling, then Need and Request. Observation is very important because a wrong observation causes nothing short of resistance from the concerned. N.V.C helps us to communicate without using blame and judgemental language as the society has taught us because the end result is always a fight back from the other other end.

Attendees Listening to Lectures

Obah Roseline Akah is the station manager of C.B.S Radio Bamenda and chapter president of CAMASEJ N.W. Assessing the outcome of the workshop, she said "I am very satisfied because we as media practitioners are the watchdogs of the society. During such crisis period, only a workshop like this can help us recoin and reshape our reports so that the audience is fed with peaceful messages." She went ahead to caution colleagues that as they go back fortified, they must endeavour to do good for the community by practicing non violence in their communication so as to bring and maintain the much cherished peace. Same view shared by Emmanuel Woloko of C.B.C Radio, Bamenda. To him the workshop has enriched his communication especially as it gives steps to communicate in a non violent manner beginning from the home to job sites and the mass media. He ended by thanking CAMASEJ N.W for involving him in the workshop to help improve on what he already knows.

Etaka Regina Liengu is of Cameroon Tribune. "I'm taking home the spirit of communicating without sparking violence especially as our country is at the verge of a collapse. As citizens of Cameroon, in all we do, we must promote peace". These were her words when asked to situate her take home message from the workshop.

Obah Roseline Akah, CAMESEJ N.W Chapter President

Other lessons learnt were that in communication, whenever you use "But", the first thing you said becomes negated in the mind of the hearer. It's preferable to use "Though" or "However". Again, practitioners were taught that human needs are universal but the difference is in strategy. We need nourishment but differ in what we take in as food; rice, beans, plantains. We need movement but differ in the strategy to  move; car, bike, trek, fly. Lastly, attendees were schooled on empathy, that is, listening and understanding another person's feelings through emotional connection. It is always advisable to be at the same level with the person in terms of seating position. This aspect alone eliminates the thought of one party superimposing on the other.

The successful holding of the Non Violent Communication workshop is the last achievement of the current executive bureau of CAMESEJ N.W whose four year mandate just ended. Elections have been built for November and campaigns are on already as the chapter gears up to vote a new bureau into office to lead the association for the next two years.

Testing the Ground, Life Staggering in Mbengwi

Testing the Ground, Life Staggering in Mbengwi

At last the long awaited return to normalcy is gradually gaining grounds, close to two weeks after the town was completely shutdown prior to the historic Oct. 7 2018 presidential election in Cameroon that is now history but whose dust raised is still very much hovering in the air as the entire nation anxiously awaits the verdict from the constitutional council, charged with the proclamation of results in no distant time from today.

Business at Mbon Market Gate

Today Wednesday October 10th, the Mbon Motor Park is once more busy. The market is open. Few provision shops too in and out of the market are also open. There are many food stuff sellers and buyers at the market gate. One restaurateur managed to cook some food today. A building materials store is open same as a mechanic that's already in his garage. Some drivers have brought their cars for minor repairs and pumping of air into their tyres so as to get ready to hit the roads once more.

But there's bad news coming in from Bamenda that the bridge over River Mezam at Alahchou, Mankon has been destroyed by separatist fighters, meaning vehicles will have to look for other roads like through Bali Nyonga oh through Alahbukam to get into Bamenda. The said bridge in Bamenda II sub division and the Abbi bridge in Mbengwi central sub division are reported to be the most solid on the Bamenda - Mbengwi highway because they were constructed by the Germans. Many inhabitants have been expressing total dissatisfaction with the act which they term as "uncalled for".

Business Resumes in the Mbon Main Market

Let's revisit these these reports I wrote before, during and after the election. They were only circulated on WhatsApp forums.

As the Hours are Dying Down...

The stakes are high,  blood pressure is increasing, hearts are panting like Zuma, fingers crossed. The news has been breaking for a thirsty readership that's been consuming appetisingly amidst heated verbal and social media debates. In under hours, Cameroonians shall decide who becomes the new president.

Welcome to Mbengwi. It's Saturday October 6th 2018. Since morning, MTN and Orange networks seem to have been cut off. Communication has been hampered. Only Nexttel is left for calls and browsing yet users can't access credit. The central town is deserted but from findings, there's life in the quarters. Inhabitants are indoors.

Military helicopters have been hovering over Mbengwi within the last two hours. Some have been landing on the municipal stadium. No one can approach the area to see what's going on. But it's alerged the flights are for the transportation of election materials ahead of tomorrow's grand event since air transport at such crucial moments is faster and safer compared to roads that are becoming more of dead traps. The copters have been flying to Ngie and Njikwa probably for the same exercise.

Some churches like P.C.C Njembeng Congregation held service today instead of tomorrow, an indication that prevention is better than cure. Just in the early morning of yesterday, the pastor of of Christ Embassy was taken from his home at gun point by masked uniform officers to their station for questioning before being later released in the evening.

At press time, the town has remained calm. Few persons have been moving from one end to another for transactions mainly using quarter roads. Where will voting take place? Are voters aware of polling stations? How will they get to and from the poling centres.

These questions and many more shall be answered as the clock ticks

D-Day in Mbengwi, Record Breaking Shutdown

Finally the day is here. Political pundits are still to come to terms with what would've caused this ground breaking shutdown of a whole divisional headquarters on such a to be memorable day in the history of Cameroon. Mbengwi is confirmed to be currently experiencing the worst ever ghost town since the commencement of the current Anglophone crisis.

Last night and this morning, some gunshot sounds were heard from the hills of Njembeng. It is alleged separatist fighters fired the shots inviting government soldiers for an exchange but fortunately there wasn't any retaliation from their side, probably a measure to contain the badly needed population.

I've been through Wumfi, Mbengbagwa, Back Mbon, Njembeng and parts of Mile 18 to ascertain the atmosphere but from the look of things, I've been the only soul on the roads. I noticed few inhabitants looking at me suspiciously from their houses as I walked around. At the Mbon motor park, I saw three souls, mentally deranged. They are known in Mbengwi as Akoh, Jefta and John.

According to official information from ELECAM, voting is to take place in the Mbengwi council hall, G.N.S Mbengwi and G.B.H.S Mbengwi but it's been pretty difficult for a reporter like me to access these poling stations because of accreditation, security and mobility challenges.
So for now, whatever is going on at the stations remains known only to those who are there.

But simply put, "Mbengwi is dead". However, there's hope that after today, it will resurrect.

All Is Well That Ends Well

And so it happened that contrary to fears of what heaven alone knows, the day of the 2018 presidential elections successfully passed in Mbengwi just like in many other parts of the region and nation hitch free. Before, it was like heaven and earth were going to meet on 7th October. Over 80% of the population had flown into the suburbs and other urban towns.

To the greatest surprise of all and probably out of God's making, nothing serious happened. At first, 1st October was dreaded yet it came and passed successfully. Secondly 7th October was dreaded yet it's now history. No gun exchange, no life lost, no excesses, no burnings, no breaking into houses.

Between morning till around 5pm, the streets were completely deserted. Only 3 mad men were found at Mbon motor park. Voting was to take place in the Mbengwi Council Hall, Gov't Nursery School Mbengwi and Gov't Bilingual High School Mbengwi. However, this reporter successfully failed to make it to any of the poling stations due to accreditation, mobility and security challenges. But efforts are still being made to get to the divisional administrative authorities and ELECAM officials for valid information on the outcome of the voting exercise in Mbengwi and Momo.

At 5pm, few persons came out of their houses and strolled on the streets to feel some breeze  and relax themselves from the stress of staying at home all day long. Many within these past days have come into reality with how losing one's freedom means. They tasted prison life and are already agitating to never ever experience such house arrest again.

The excitement many have been expressing because 1st and 7th October passed successfully can only be compared to the soul of a sinner that successfully made it to the pearly gates (heaven) after days of waiting in purgatory. They crave and yearn with so much appetite for the day the good old days will come again, when life was 24/7, when military and civilians wined and danced together.

It is highly anticipated that in the days ahead, many of those who had escaped will start returning to their darling sub division for normal life to regain its lost steam and stamina. The presidential election results shall be declared in a maximum of two weeks time by the constitutional council though trends are trending on social media already and they are seemingly not favourable for the ruling government reason why the ministers of communication and territorial administration have frequently been granting press conferences cautioning the public that no one else but the constitutional council has the prerogative of declaring election results. MTN too has been forwarding messages to its users in the same like.

Regrettably since Friday, Mbengwi has been without MTN and Orange networks. People can't communicate with their loved ones and family members. Mobile Money transactions can't be executed. Only those who are connected to the Nexttel network are communicating now. The water crisis that had hit the municipality is intensifying as many other areas are getting effected. Fortunately, electricity on its part has been stable, thus many inhabitants have been spending time at home either watching TV or browsing.

The Day After

Life is returning to Mbengwi at a geometric progression rate. As early as 6:30am this Monday morning, persons could be seen walking up and down the streets already. The de facto house arrest has been unbearable.

At the Mbon Motor Park, there wasn't any man made movable object on wheels yet the loaders/pack boys answered present. They'd been missing their park like a cigarette addict. They just felt loitering there again and chatting is medicinal to the spirit. In Wumfi, Njembeng, Mile 17, Mile 19, G.R.A, Muswe and other areas, people have been moving around freely. Many don't really have a specific destination but they just want to stroll around and see other faces.

They walk around with every sign and symptom of mental freedom after over a week of psychological and house imprisonment. Approximately, over a hundred inhabitants have come out of their homes this morning. No shop has so far been opened because unfortunately it's a Monday, instituted as Ghost Town day by leaders of the Anglophone struggle for over a year now.

At Mbon Motor Park, boys and men are in clusters and caucuses with folded arms chatting on almost a uniform subject matter, yesterdays presidential elections and the trends circulating on social media. There's joy and excitement to see faces that have been missing for long.

Even the lone community radio station, Rainbow Radio that shut down transmission for a week because of security concerns is back on air this morning hitting the airwaves with good music, giving so much liveliness to the town and making the inhabitants feel back at home.

Information from the suburbs like Munam, Bessi Fomukong, Sang, Touembeng, Chup etc indicates that many of those who had escaped there for fear of the unknown are already getting set to start moving back to Mbengwi centre after the unknown never happened.

Security wise, the streets are free from the presence of uniform men. Since Sunday before 1st October till date, there's been no deployment of any extra military force to Mbengwi. It's been observed anytime military excesses are reported in Mbengwi, it is when a back up force comes in from elsewhere. Officers having Mbengwi as their base have shown some relative level of professionalism. Even when arrests are made, the probability is always above 50% that the arrestees shall be freed, contrary to other areas where they are just shot at and killed. The cases of some Back Mbon and Mile 19 inhabitants plus the pastor of Christ Embassy Mbengwi are a glaring example.

However the military is still very much dreaded. At the sight of their patrol van from a distance people still run into hiding. They still have the notion that the military arrests and kills at random. It's a mentality that's been imbibed in the minds of many a person from children to the old.

 Hierarchy probably understands this reason why the boys are now being confined to their barracks more than ever before and brought out only when need be. Because of their absence from the streets, citizens are able to move around freely. This morning, persons have been passing in front of the gendarmerie and police posts at Mile 18 to go to Mbon or Mile 19. It wasn't like this days back. To go to Mile 19 from Mbon, people were going though Njembeng to Muswe then Mile 19, to avoid any contact with the officers.

The way out will be for a gradual sensitisation and mindset rebuilding on the role of security officers. They are part and parcel of the society. They are for the people not against them. They must avoid harassments and excesses and show love and friendship to citizens. Obviously not until the escalation of the crisis, the military in Mbengwi had been friendly with the population except when provoked or attacked by separatist fighters called Amba Boys.

It is highly anticipated that with the gradual return to normalcy, by tomorrow Tuesday, many shops will be opened and there will be circulation.

Fake News, Stray Animals, Deserted Town & More; A Bird's Eye View of the Struggle in Mbengwi

As the count down to the historic October 7th 2018 presidential election in Cameroon narrows, as Cameroonians go to the polls this coming Sunday to vote a new president,  Mbengwi Online brings to you a bird's eye view of the Momo Divisional Headquarters.

Barely hours left for the grand event, the town of Mbengwi remains highly deserted. Previously inhabitants of Ngyen-Mbo, Mile 19, Mile 20, Njinibi, Nyen, Kob, Tudig, Acha-Tugi and Ngwokwong were first to escape because the exercise of military might started in these communities especially as they were in records to be hosting separatist fighters known locally as "Amba Boys". While these communities tasted gunshots and military excesses like burnings and killings, life went on unperturbed in G.R.A, Njembeng, Bome, Mile 17 and Mile 18, the heart of the sub division. Ngyen-Mbo being the entry/exit community of the sub division had long been deserted because the last remaining control post in the entire sub division is located here. Because of attacks, the post had been relocated severally from New Lay Out to near the Presbyterian Church, to around Monastery junction and finally to Wednesday Market. The villagers abandoned their homes because of rampant gun exchanges.

Stray Pig Wandering Around

Villages like Bessi Fomukong, Sang, Munam, Touembeng are now playing host to these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who hadn't the means to travel to Douala and Yaounde as many others have been doing. But life in these host communities is full of fake news and fright. Despite being located kilometres away from Mbengwi central town where uniform officers have been stationed, the inhabitants of these communities tend to live in more fear. On uncountable occasions, they've had to flee their homes into the bushes just because someone blew a false alarm that soldiers are coming. These communities are enclaved with very bad roads yet one is baffled how fake news continues to frighten them. People escape from Njindom to Zang Tembeng, those here abandon them in their homes and escape to Munam and it continues. At the end of it, one realises that the quest to relocate is inexplicable. Psychologically, the people feel unsecured in their own homes. They just feel okay to relocate even if its to their neighbours house.

Reporter on the Run

 Last Sunday September 30th I was in a village called Barakwe. Christians had just finished service from the presbyterian church when a young boy probably out of imagination shouted in the vernacular that they are coming. Within 30 seconds, the village square was empty. Old mothers and fathers with walking sticks disappeared into thin air, some arriving home panting and sweating. In this very Barakwe, many villagers have continued to abandon their homes at night and go sleep elsewhere. About two weeks back, over five military trucks on mission to dismantle a separatist fighters camp in Mile 16, Norngmeukwe lost their way and instead went but to Barakwe. Within no time, news went round of the looming danger. A lady jumped out through the window into the backyard and that was how all took to the bushes. The news spread to Wumnebit, Njindom, Wumnemburg, Chenam, Bessi that they are already in Barakwe. Its was a bad day for the poeople of Tondig. Many slept out that night. The military actually realised they were in the wrong place, made a U-turn without any gunshot or atrocity to their real destination, Mile 16. Today, the trauma is still haunting many people in Barakwe reason why they don't still sleep in their homes at night. The still hallucinate the sight and imaginations of how they cheated death. But why do these people fear the military so much? Because of the atrocities they cause on the field when sent on mission. If it happens to "A" why not "B"?

Deserted Mbon Motor Park

That same day, upon arrival in Mile 16, Nongmeukwe, the military engaged in serious heavy gunshots to destroy the camp that was there. The sounds could be heard kilometres away. Again, someone raised a false alarm in Munam that the firing is approaching their community. That was how inhabitants here took to the bushes. Munam is the last border town to Bafut. From Mbengwi, one needs to pass through Bessi Fomukong, Njindom, Sang to get to Munam. The soldiers didn't near any of these villages yet those at the extreme end took to the bush.

On 1st October 2018, inhabitants of these rural communities stayed indoors. They had been made to believe that a flag will be hoisted in Buea. So on several occasions I had to be answering questions like "What's the latest?", " How's Mbengwi?", "Where did they hoist the flag?" and I was like who brainwashed these persons? What has hoisting a flag got to do? I gave them correct news as a newsman.

Brisk Business at Kwe Market, Bessi Fomukong

Before relocating, many of the villagers in fierce fighting areas had to free their domestic animals like pigs and goats to stray, to fend for themselves. And so passing in these scary communities, all what finds is stray domestic animals and birds. The homes are empty. But back in the hinterlands, life is booming. Villages still having functional weekly markets like Bessi Fomukong and Munam are now booming. I was at the Kwe market in Bessi last Tuesday. I saw communalism. Apart from Sunday service for Christians, the only place where people from all walks of life gather is at the village market squares. After undesirably staying indoors for days, many found the market as last bus stop to once more meet and commune with others since funerals and wedding ceremonies are now rare and low keyed. Reports say just like in Bessi, hundreds always gather at the Aje'eh weekly market in Munam to do business and have fun.

Mile 17 had been enjoying relative calm not until when the military stormed Norngmeukwe for an attack on a separatist fighters camp. The inhabitants of Mile 17 flee. Mile 18 was the last remaining peaceful area in the whole Mbengwi probably because it hosts the gendarmerie and police posts. It's the heart of the sub division and so was considered a difficult to attack area. But hell broke lose last Saturday September 29 when in the early hours of the morning, the lion was dared in its den. Separatist fighters came attacking the gendarmerie and police posts. For over 30 minutes, the population danced to the music and tunes of various gun sounds. When the government forces successfully repelled the fighters, calm returned and that same day, doubting Thomases in Mile 18 took to their heels.

Armoured Cars During an Intervention in Njikwa
Cr: Honneur et Fidelité, Cameroon Military's Official Facebook Page

That was how an entire sub division emptied its vulnerable population into urban towns and into the suburbs. However as the adage goes in Meta, _Not all ants will ever leave the hill._ They are still few persons in these deserted areas that have made up their mind that until death do them part, they are going nowhere.  Even at the sight of an armoured car (what many dread the most), they still stay put. An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility and defensive capabilities. To them, soldiers are human beings who reason, who go after an enemy and not just any person. So if they aren't the enemy why should they escape?

The clock is ticking for Sunday morning when the polls will be opened. The fate of Mbengwi in this election remains undetermined. Will voting take place? In how many polling stations? How will the exercise go on? How will the post election atmosphere look like? Your trusted news blog, Mbengwi Online shall cover and report the events as they unfold ceteris patibus.