By Doh James Sonkey
The Minister of Territorial Administration, AtangaNji Paul received in audience last April 8, 2024 in the deliberation hall of the Ministry of Territorial Administration in Yaounde, officials of MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun in the presence of the Director General of the National Agency for the Information and Communication Technology, ANTIC, Dr Ebot Enaw Enaw. The MINAT boss said the meeting was to sensitise them on the gravity of the insecurity committed with unidentified SIM cards obtained from MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun especially in the Far North, North West and South West regions of the country.
He told the telephony companies that Mobile Money and Orange Money services are used to fuel terrorism activities in these three regions.
Minister Atanga Nji Paul stated that “the Cameroon government came up with legislation to govern the obtention of telephone SIM cards, but the two operators are not respecting the rules.”
The MINAT boss said “reports from the governors of the North West and South West regions indicate that there are about 450 unidentified SIM cards in circulation and terrorists have used these unidentified SIM cards to obtain more than FCFA 300 million in ransoms, blackmail and outright threats.”
He said whenever a gang of terrorist is dismantled, about 15 or more unidentified SIM cards are on them.
The Minister said a similar situation obtained in the Adamawa and Far North Regions. The MINAT boss said MTN and Orange officials have 60 days to comply by giving a complete list of those selling their products in the North West and South West regions and those operating Mobile Money and Orange Money kiosks, because terrorists are using these platforms to defraud people, thus posing an insecurity threat.” He said after the 60 days, severe sanctions will be meted on defaulters because the state cannot trade its security for business, especially with forthcoming elections.