The military has intensified its search of a youth leader, Clinton Tim Ndongmuh, who has been accused of siding and collaborating with Ambazonia separatist fighters.

It should be recalled that Ndongmuh had, months back, been kidnapped by separatist fighters who accused him of being a spy of the military. They are said to have whisked him away to their camp, where he was tortured for over a week. He was only released after a ransom was paid.

However, recently, the military is said to have carried out a raid on one of the hideouts of the Ambazonia separatist fighters, which led to the killing of several of the fightersand arms, ammunitions and items were seize. Among the items the military recovered were mobile phones and documents — among which was Ndongmuh’s mobile phone and some personal belongings.

Equally,we gathered that there seems to have been records of ransom payments made by Ndongmuh’s family to secure his release when he was kidnapped and financial transactions made by Ndongmuh to the fighters. With this, the military is said to be suspecting that Ndongmuh had links with the separatist fighters and has been a funder of separatist movements.

To the military, we learned from reliable sources, this was evidence of collaboration with separatists, whom the government has labeled as terrorists.

Because of these accusations, Ndongmuh was picked up and taken to the military camp and subjected to brutal interrogations.

For three days, he was held in degrading conditions, tortured to the point of unconsciousness. But he is said to have later escaped under circumstances that remain cloudy. His whereabouts is currently unknown.

Since then the military has launched a manhunt for him. If arrested by the military, Clinton Tim Ndongmuh will be tried in a military tribunal, under the 2014 anti-terrorism law, whose maximum punishment is the death sentence. That is if she is not killed outright, like many others who have been victims of extra-judicial killings within the context of the armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions.

Meanwhile, if the separatist fighters, who are also said to be looking for him, lay hands on him, they will definitely kill Ndongmuh, like many others who have been victims of atrocities committed by separatist fighters.

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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.

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