By NorBert WaSSo
Recently rehabilitated Njock Village in Tiko subdivision is already mired in a chieftaincy dispute.
A letter from the Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Paul Nji signed on November 4, 2024 to the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako Division instructs that, “I have the honour to request you to proceed with the rehabilitation of the 3rd Class Chiefdom of Njock Village and give me a feedback”.
The minister’s recognition and request followed a Plea for the rehabilitation of Njock Village, Tiko Subdivision from Fako Senior Divisional Officer, Viang Mekala made to MINAT on May 13, 2024 following an inquisitory letter from MINAT on August 23, 2023.
In the SDO’s plea, he notes that “Njock village located in Tiko Subdivision of our administrative jurisdiction does exist and has a well-developed social and traditional organization including a chief although not yet recognized; a council of notables, an organizational chart, a well established and identified population. The rehabilitation act of Njock village fully sponsored by the royal family headed by Boumsong Roger Jesus Mepuna dated November 4, 2025 was successfully handed to the SDO for Fako, Mr Viang Mekala via his secretariat alongside other documents.
Enter the Boumsongs
The claim by the SDO that the village already has a chief though not recognized is splitting hairs and has inadvertently provoked a deep chieftaincy dispute.
The dispute over the throne involves the Boumsong family and Effia Ezekiel who it is claimed by Boumsong Roger Jesus Mepuna came to Njock village through their family. After protest from Boumsong Roger, the talks were initially cancelled only for a second communique to be issued reprogramming the talks for the same November 12 this time at 9am. Curiously it was the Assistant Divisional Officer ADO who arrived at about 3pm with the said Effia Ezekiel in his car. The villagers who had been waiting it is alleged, refuted that the ADO couldn’t go into the village until Effia stepped out of the car.
Boumsong Roger Jesus Mepuna Effia Ezekiel help and guide him to follow up their family businesses, land matters and the chieftaincy issue. Boumsong Roger said while abroad he started learning of the things Effia was doing and how he was positioning himself as the head of the Boumsong family. He had to rush back to the country to get to the root of the matter. On arrival, he realised that Effia had dug his heels very deep and was being convened in meetings by the administration to represent Njock Village.
Boumsong Roger who spoke to The SUN newspaper says the Boumsong’s family are here ‘to expose the impostor Effia Ezekiel who has been interfering with the activities of Njock village although having no links with Njock village as he has never stayed in Njock village, neither the mother nor the father, the late Pa Steven Nwane who lived, died and was buried in Malende Penda Mboko”.
According to the heir Boumsong Roger, Effia Ezekiel had been a friend who lived with him. He says he “sheltered him, clothed him, fed him and even took care of all his hospital bills but Ezekiel Effia fraudulently imposed himself as a member of the royal family due to the welcoming and accommodating altitude of the royal family”. He accused Effia of making documents like identity card and others thinking he had backing from others. Boumsong Roger developed a close relationship with Effia to the extent where on travelling out of the country he introduced Effia to his elder brother to Boumsong Roger says Effia Ezekiel is an intruder who refused recognising the royal family aiming at hijacking the throne. According to Boumsong Roger, Effia Ezekiel is originally from Njari in the Donga Mantung Division (Nkambe).
The royal family calls on “Effia Ezekiel to stay clear of all matters of Njock village and urges the administration to look at the series of complaints filed against the said Effia Ezekiel and more so to give recognition to the Minister’s letter and to recognize the new Chief giving that the village isn’t a newly created village but an old existing village with well-defined costumes and norms. Matters came to a head last November 12, 2025 when the Divisional Officer for Tiko convened consultative talks for the village without informing the Boumsong family whose father late Boumsong Francis Joshua was first tax collector and founder of the village. He died in 1997.
After a long plea from the ADO the community asked him to go for a walk in the village but without Effia Ezekiel who was in his car but he refused and decided to make a U-turn without reaching Njock
village. Boumsong Roger Jesus Mepuna has forwarded a summons to our news desk from the gendarmerie to appear there on Tuesday December 2 for allegedly mobilising the villagers to block the Assistant D.O’s convoy.
However, in a telephone chat with Effia Ezekiel, he intimated The SUN that all what is being pushed around is fake pointing an accusing finger to HRH Dipoko of Missaka who he claims wants to bring Njock and other surrounding villages under his control.
Ezekiel alleges that the mob that blocked the ADO from entering Njock village were thugs from outside the village allegedly hired by Chief Dipoko. Pressed further on the rightful person to mount the throne, he said the late Boumsong was never a chief and when the son Boumsong Roger was asked to produce documents to that effect, he couldn’t. Effia said in a meeting with the former D.O, the villagers had overwhelmingly chosen him as their chief.
Fako Division continues to thrive from one chieftaincy dispute to another and from one land saga to another. Administrators come and go but the problems persist.