By WIFAH J. NDE
Dust is yet to settle in Batibo over the disappearance of the Divisional Officer, DO for Batibo, Namata Diteng Marcel and his whereabouts yet to be ascertain as his freedom came to a halt on Sunday February 11 amid National Youth Day celebration when an alleged gang ambushed him in his car at about 8:20am precisely at Kruku Village on his way home from some supervisory works at the grandstand prior to the commencement of Youth Day celebrations.
Without any official statement at press time, there are varying reports from diverse quarters postulating on the whereabouts of the DO. While some separatist social media platforms have claimed responsiblity for the missing DO, even insinuating that he may have been killed, Comunication minister refutes allegations that the DO is dead and challenged those claiming the contrary to show proof. He however admitted that the DO had been abducted.
Reports The SUN gathered from different sources on the field however, recounted that the DO was home that morning when he was called to the grand stand that there were problems with some chairs meant for the February 11 celebration.
He then left for the grand stand with neither a security guard nor a driver when he was ambushed at Kruku village as he was about returning home, his car seized and later burnt down.
This source equally told The SUN that the DO received a threat letter on the eve of the National Youth Day asking him to evacuate Batibo.
Void of uniformity in the different versions of the story, another version holds that there was gunfire exchange between security elements and a supposed “Ambazonia Security Forces” wherein the version claims three uniform men were gunned down. The SUN can however, not confirm the veracity of this version.
Though administrative and security officials remain mouth-sealed on the subject, the incident attracted the presence of the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO for Momo who later visited the home of the missing DO, had close chats with his family sort for first hand information from security officials who were on the ground.
Giving the security uncertainties, there were security raids in Batibo and its environs on the night of Sunday February 11 with some arrests reported as some families displaced into the bushes.