By Sah Terence Animbom
When he was arrested by Ambazonian forces on his way back from Bamenda through Yang village between Njinikom and Fundong sub divisions in June 2018, many thought that was the end of his life, as has been the case with almost all uniform men abducted by Ambazonian activists since the escalation of the Anglophone crisis in the North West and South West regions of The Republic of Cameroon. However, Bemsi, a police officer in Fundong’s case was different, indeed different.
Bemsi was abducted and taken to a camp on his way back home to Fundong, during which he was carefully questioned and an investigation well carried out by the level headed Yang camp Amba fighters who treat the population much better as compared to the FundongAbuh camp fighters. When nothing was seen against him, they released him without any physical torture, though after the payment of a reasonable ransom.
However, the FundongAbuh camp seems to have recruited fighters who are totally not versed with their own environment and the people therein. Five junior fighters of the AbuhFundong camp on Thursday February 14, 2019 invaded the residence of Police officer Bemsi in Fundong at about 6:30pm and ordered him to follow them after asking him to hand them his gun which he said he hadn’t a gun. “They came in and asked me what I did for a living and I told them I was a police officer, then they exclaimed ‘aaarrh you be Ikelebe! So nawuna di shoot we killam? We go kill you today. After saying this they went into the rooms and scattered everywhere asking me to hand them my gun. I told them for my 25 years in the Police Force I have never needed a gun”. He said.
“They came out and picked up my woofer and asked for the keys of my bike, then they carried my generator and tied with other things which they collected from my house on the bike and they asked me to follow them. I tried to plead with them to go ahead with the things so I can follow them the next day, but they bullied me to stand up immediately. I asked if I could put on my shoes and they said no. They collected my uniforms and said they will dress me in one and kill me. We left and they flogged me from my house till we reached their camp in Ngwah. While one was going ahead with my bike and gadgets collected from my house, I was made to move on foot and forced to run even when I was tired such that my slippers slipped out and I hit my toe very hard on a stone injuring it badly. Even with this I was not pitied. They flogged me on my arms and back with whatever they lay hands on. Even my head was not safe from the whips.” He narrated on
“It was when we reached Ngwah that one of the “colonels” who knows me asked them not to touch me any further. He told me he knew me very well though I do not know him and said I was going to be made to sleep in a very uncomfortable situation and ordered my abductors to take me to the camp on a bike. I was taken to the camp and my legs and arms tied with chains that bruised me badly. I slept in my own urine in an open air room while three small girls abducted from Fundong too slept comfortably in another room opposite. I was released in the morning without any questions and simply asked to go back home after the superiors had ordered that I be taken to the health centre so some treatment can be given to my wounds and some pain killers administered. I was given back a few items collected from my house and told to go and make a list of all that was taken and that is how I came back home”.
The freed police officer was talking to friends and sympathizers who paid him a visit after hearing the news. The SUN paid him a visit and took interest in the reactions of the visitors towards the action of the Amba boys on someone they say has been more than helpful to the Fundong population as far as issuing of ID cards during this period of turmoil is concerned.
It is worth noting that many inhabitants of Fundong frown at the activities of the Amba Boys in Fundong which are rather an attack on the population as many put it. They say the Amba Boys harass them on daily basis, collecting money in the name of support in a punitive manner and even confiscate phones and other valuables from the population.
Listening to them speak gives one the impression that the Amba boys have lost the support of the population in Fundong and only fear makes them still control the town which may tantamount to massive sellout of the Boys in the nearest future.