By Ikose Bekomba Pathos
The deadly and persistent conflict in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon, has created a multitude of diverse casualties, including killings, rampant kidnappings, injuries, destruction of property, disruption of social life, economic stagnation, political uncertainty, a very fragile security situation, unprecedented mass displacements, and the spirit of mutual mistrust across communities that are ravaged by this bloody and traumatising conflict.
According to Relief International, more than 430,000 people have been displaced from their communities and homes, since the pernicious conflict began. Till date, there has been no measure with convincing realistic prospects, for restoring sustainable peace and security in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon.
Meanwhile, the toll of casualties continues to rise within the ranks of the Cameroonian military, among separatist fighters, and across the civilian population. Among inhabitants, the most vivid and recurring adversities include: kidnappings for ransom, intimidations, ultimatums, loss of means of livelihood, conflict-induced involuntary displacements, and a general sense of socio-economic and socio-political distress.
According to reports, Ebah Emmanuel Ngome is a victim of the current wave of violence and insecurity in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon.
On Saturday 13th April, 2019, Ebah Emmanuel Ngome, an economist and writer, resident in Douala, Cameroon’s bustling economic capital, was attending the funeral of a friend’s mother at Three Corners Fiango in the town of Kumba. Driving a Mazda car, Ebah Emmanuel Ngome departed from his residence in Bali in Douala at about 6a.m., heading for Kumba. Under normal circumstances, he would have been expected to have reached Kumba by 10 a.m. that morning. It so happened that the journey of Ebah Emmanuel Ngome was interrupted by suspected separatists in the Ediki area, along the Buea-Kumba road. Eyewitness accounts reveal that Ebah was forcefully stopped by five armed men wearing black garment masks. An argument appeared to have broken out between Ebah and the rebels, during which Ebah was forcefully pulled out of his car, pushed to a corner, and the car set ablaze using petrol. Ebah was then quickly taken away to a nearby forest, never to resurface again.
Mbwang Bertrand, whose mother’s funeral Ebah was attending in Kumba later revealed that Ebah gave him a call in a distressful manner, stating that he is just within 20 metres of five armed men, who have barricaded the road with heavy logs of wood. Mbwang Bertrand disclosed that after that conversation, he could no longer reach Ebah via his mobile phone. When Ebah did not arrive in Kumba at the expected time, Mbwang feared the worse for his friend, being well aware of the perilous safety situation along the Buea-Kumba highway.
Indeed, the fears of Mbwang Bertrand were fully founded and confirmed, as his friend Ebah, was indeed actually seized and taken to an undisclosed destination by armed men. Till date, the whereabouts of Ebah remains a highly disturbing puzzle.
Friends and family members of Ebah Emmanuel Ngome are painfully appealing for information from anyone regarding his possible whereabouts.
Despite the continuous accumulation of causalities from this lethargic conflict, there is no clear indication that this socio-political adversity is on course to complete cessation. Many people are now calling for Divine intervention in redeeming them from this agonising conflict.
Cameroon, which was once internationally praised as one of the most peaceful countries in the world, is now struggling to cope with untold causalities, from what many qualify as an unrelenting and insidious conflict.