By Talla Agha Christopher
The search for all activists backing the Anglophone cause has picked up steam amid the ongoing unrest in the north and south west regions. Government, in a desperate attempt at calming the troubled waters has multiplied efforts towards apprehending those considered to be the masterminds behind the crisis. The hunt is in a bid to bring to book various Anglophone activists such as the likes of Mancho Bibixy ,Tsi Conrad,and penn Terence who upon their arrest in January of 2017 subsequently stood trial before the military tribunal.Faced with the wrath of the government, they were each slammed maximum jail sentences to be served at the kondengui maximum security prison. What started as a strike action in 2016 by common law lawyers and Anglophones teachers, has since escalated into an armed struggle, characterised by all sorts of violence and destruction with the military allegedly burning down villages and homes of those considered as enemies of the state. This includes those voicing dissatisfaction with the Yaoundé based regime, as well as leaders of all secessionist movements demanding for a separate state for the Southern Cameroons. The clamour has led to widespread degradation of law and order and an unprecedented genocide is feared to be ongoing in the North West and South West regions.
Recent statistics by civil society organizations reflect the extent of the damage.There are claims that about 120 villages have been burnt down in the two English speaking regions, while about 11.000 people remain internally displaced.A majority of whom are taking refuge in the bushes and forests. This is in addition to about 45000 Anglophone Cameroonians that have assumed the status of refugees in Nigeria. Several activists both home and abroad have been earmarked for arrest as a result.A person of interest emerging most recently,has been a man who goes by Jato Nelson Nchukwi. Reports hold that Mr.Jato Nelson, as far back as 2012, became a staunch member of the Southern Cameroons National Council better known by its acronym SCNC. A separatist movement clamouring for the restoration of Independence of Southern Cameroon. His activism since then, has made him the subject of government interest and he now stands the risks of detainment and trial for felonies including seccession,insurrection,Treason and propagation of false information.
According to trusted security sources friendly to THE SUN Newspaper, they are poised to restrain Mr.Jato Nelson for being one of those inciting violence in the Anglophone regions through his activism. He has been known to be very active in protests and rallies by Southern Cameroonians pertaining to issues of secession. During such manifestations they carry placards bearing anti-apartheid messages like ” Illegal annexation of Southern Cameroon”, “Southern Cameroons is not for sale”, “The era of colonisation is over”, and ” Liberate the Southern Cameroons. In January of 2018 during a routine vehicle check, Jato was apprehended by forces of
law and order on his way to Nkambe village in the Northwest region for supposedly being in possession of anti 11th February YOUTH DAY materials. Thereafter, he became the recipient of intense scrutiny and interogation. While in custody, it was alledged that he endured various forms of torture, harrassment and humiliation. Jato was able to later escape from custody . A feat that could only be possible with inside help according to popular opinion. Family and friends maintain that they are uncertain about his whereabouts as plainclothes security men remain on his trail.As is the case with Mr.Jato Nelson Nchukwi other southern Cameroonians in the diaspora like Martin Ndu Tamua end up being targets of the state upon their return to the country.