BY SANDRA LUM
The crisis in the North West and South West Regions, which has morphed into an armed conflict continues to take new twists.
While the crisis rages on, the conflict rages on, many civilians have been accusations by Ambazonia separatist fighters and the defence and security forces.
Meanwhile, the separatist fighters have been kidnapping and sometimes killing those whom they accuse of working towards thwarting their cause for the independence of a country they have christened Ambazonia. On the other hand, those accused by the military of collaborating and sympathizing with the fighters are also either killed by the military, or are arrested, tortured and detained under very inhumane conditions. Some have reportedly died in detention.
One of those who have suffered because of the armed conflict is Clinton Tim Ndongmuh, who is a youth leader of the Cameroon National Youth Council, CNYC. He was targeted because of his actions in community development projects as well as peace moves.
Ndongmuh is a young leader, a promising figure in Cameroon National Youth Council, working on community engagement and civic participation. But his commitment to peace and governance made him a targeted man.
After the armed persisting in the North West and South West regions sparked, He has found himself caught between two deadly forces—one accusing him of betraying their cause, the other suspecting him of treason. What has followed is a horrifying ordeal of kidnapping, brutal military torture, and an ongoing struggle to stay alive.
Born and raised in Fundong Subdivision, Boyo Division of the NorthWest Region of today’s Anglophone crisis hit zone, Ndongmuh’s journey into youth leadership seemed like a noble pursuit. He worked closely with government institutions such as Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, and local councils to promote voter registration and peace-building initiatives. We gathered involvement in community projects brought him in direct contact with government officials, including his uncle, Ngong Innocent, the Mayor of Belo.
However, in the eyes of armed separatist groups, this made him a traitor. These groups, seeking independence for Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, viewed any collaboration with the government as betrayal.
Threats came swiftly. Ndongmuh is said to have received anonymous letters warningand accusing him of taking sites with the government. He is also said to have received calls from separatist fighters threatening his life. The separatist fighters are said to have promised to kill him if he continued with his activities. But, undeterred, Ndongmuh continued.
The worse is said to have happened sometime in April 2020 when separatist fighters kidnapped Ndongmuh, accusing him of being a spy of the military. Though he is said to have refuted the accusations, the fighters did not believe him.
He is said to have been held captive for over a week during which he was physical and psychological tortured. He is said to have been released after a ransom was paid. But the separatist fighters are said to have warned him that if does not desist from his activities, the net time they kidnap him, he will be killed.