By Elah Geofrey M. and Wifah J. Ndeh
Hon. Chief Mbile’s palace razed
Hon. Chief Mbile Norbert’s palace at Lipenja I Batanga was completely burnt down on Friday, February 23 by presumed separatists.
Talking to The SUN, Hon. Chief Mbile recounted that he received a call from his nephew, Efiom Ivo early on that fateful Friday from Mundemba informing him that separatists had taken “my entire family in Lipenja I Batanga, Toko Subdivision, Ndian Division hostage and were asking for FCFA 2,000,000, else they would kill my three cousins and their children staying at my palace and burn down the palace itself and my other houses in Mundemba”.
According to Hon. Chief Mbile, the insecurity is all the more acute as there exists no forces of law and order in the entire Toko Sub Division. “I presently don’t know in what condition my family in the village is. We can only pray from them, Chief Mbile Mbile moaned.
Two killed in Ebonji
Reports from Ebonji village in Tombel sub division indicate that two people were shot death by the military after an early morning raid on Sunday, February 25, 2018. Reports say the two young men were ambushed and shot at their homes.
Several others are said to have been arrested and taken to yet to unknown destinations while a good number of the youths fled into the forest.
NW regional delegate of social affairs kidnapped
The regional delegate for Social Affairs, Northwest Mr Nimbom Aaron Yong, a native of Belo Subdivision, Boyo in the North West Region was reportedly abducted around Ashong Batibo on his way to Bamenda last February 24, his service car burnt while his driver set free. Unconfirmed reports hold that the regional delegate for Social Affairs to the North West Region who was recently moved to the North West from the South West was returning from a funeral in Momo Division of the North West.
His disappearance has sparked tension among his relatives with his immediate family based in Kumba while government is yet to make any official statement. He becomes the second government official abducted in Momo Division in two weeks by unknown individuals.
The Divisional Officer for Batibo was kidnapped more than two weeks ago by suspected separatist fighters and is yet to be found.
Three deaths recorded in Njinikom
As news of the divisional delegate was still being absorbed by the North West population, another horrifying report came in from Njinikom in Boyo Division where three people have been reported dead.
According to reports, unidentified gunmen opened fire at about 9:30pm on beer consumers at a filling station in Njinikom, seriously wounding a filling station worker who is said to be responding to treatment at the Njinikom Catholic Hospital as at press time.
It is purported that the unknown men had as target the Gendarmerie Brigade in that locality whose elements responded with gunfire.
At the end of the exchange, two lifeless bodies were seen on the streets of Njinikom. The two corpses have been deposited at the Njinikom Catholic Hospital Morgue with one identified as GOPTI George in his late 20s from Njinikom and the other yet to be identified.
According to sources in Njinikom, the gunmen are said to have razed some business sheds, a motor garage before leaving with one of thiers who was apparently wounded during the exchange with the military.
Their getaway car was later discovered around nearby Muloin village burnt to ashes and with charred body in it. The identity of the person is yet to be confirmed since he/she was burnt beyond recognition.
At at Sunday morning, the local population is said to have begun fleeing into the bushes and nearby villages for fear of military raids.
This, it should be noted, is happening at a time calm is yet to fully return to the neighbouring Belo in same Division following raids, arrests and brutality executed on the Belo people by elements of security forces since February 1, 2018.