North West: Governor Solicits Population's Support to Give Crisis a Befitting Burial.

By Martial Gnoukapasi

photo credit: Anye Ndeh Soh.

NW Governor Adolph Lele Lafrique facing the press

By asking the population to assist the military in intelligence gathering, governor LeLe Lafrique Tchoffo Deben in an interview affirm, he was seeking for collaboration from the people to help government put an end to the conflict that has not only impoverish but claim the lives of many since it turned violent in 2017.

Chairing the regional administrative and security coordination meeting Tuesday November 4th in the capital city of Bamenda, the regional head also hinted that base on routine reports submitted to his office, life from a socio-cultural, economic and political perspective was gradually returning to the region.

He attributed this gradual return to normalcy to the synergized efforts of the defense and security forces, municipal and local authorities, plus the population that collaborated with the military during   the special "Operation Keep Bamenda Clean", carried out to secure lives and properties from outlaws, he said.

Administrative and security stakeholders on their feet for the anthem.

"We are appealing to the population to continue mobilizing themselves in vigilante and peace groups in the various communities including schools, parks, market places etc, to accompany this process to normalcy. Economic, administrative and social activities are resuming. Even cultural activities are resuming with traditional authorities and mayors returning home...In their absence the devil took advantage of the vacuum that existed and has done so for four years. We should fight against that devil and give the crisis a befitting burial".

Questionned on measures put in place to ensure that the kumba gruesome incident doesn't occur in any school in the north west, he said a special security device had been set up by the generals in charge in the region and divisions,

but following the kumba incidence, these measures have been level-up.

"Even with these measures, It's however impossible for the security men to be behind every student. We are appealing therefore with the population and school community to shun these demons in our community. From our last assessment they're doing so already, tracing the terrorists to the security forces for them to be sanctioned and prosecuted".

Governor Adolph with the 7 Senior prefects of NWR.

Describing recent acts from armed seperatists as "a last kick from a dying horse", first deputy of the bamenda city council speaking earlier said, there've been a remarkable drop of insecurity since the order restricting the circulation of motorbikes from plying

major streets within the city was enforced.

"From every indication these motorbikes directly and indirectly link to the havocs in this town...

..Peace will soon return and decentralisation is the way" he added.

To note that few hours into the security meeting, reports emerged of a group of unidentified

armed men that stormed the campus of Presbyterian Primary School Kumbo and carted away a total of 11 teachers and disperesd the children to go home unhurt.

The Presbyterian church in Cameroon in a release has vehemently condemned the act, saying it steps on childrens right to education.

Press release from PCC in the abduction.

They have also use the communique to launch a passionate appeal to the perpetrators to release the captives as soon as possible.

After the kumba massacre of October 24th that left 7 children death, thousands of women in the north west region stormed the street in tears and ended at the governors office, where they denounce the act and called on the authorities to seek for a lasting solution to the anglophone crisis.