At least five taxi drivers have lost their livelihoods after their vehicles were set on fire on the night of August 14. Separatist Ambazonia fighters targeted a petrol station in Ntarinkon, Bamenda, where the taxis were parked, setting them ablaze. This destruction is part of a controversial policy aimed at forcing drivers to change their taxi colour from yellow to blue and white. This policy, which has brought considerable distress and confusion to Bamenda, is linked to Nkonda Titus, a self-professed anti-separatist activist known as ‘My Kontri Pipo Dem,’ and Ayaba Cho Lucas, who claims leadership of a separatist group seeking independence for Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
Nkonda Titus, currently based in the United Kingdom, previously claimed in a social media post to have initiated the taxi color change policy, which is now being used by armed separatists loyal to Ayaba Cho to target civilians.
Many are perplexed by how two opposing groups could be implementing a policy that causes suffering to the local population. Since the policy’s introduction in July, at least ten taxis have been destroyed in Bamenda.
The intentions behind this policy remain unclear. Victims have faced significant hardships over the past month, with those promoting the policy contributing nothing positive to the local community.
Nkonda Titus Aghen, who resides in the UK, has not left a positive impact in his hometown of Widikum. His activities from abroad have resulted in pain for people back home under the guise of combating armed separatists.
Ayaba Cho Lucas, a long-time political refugee in Norway, has led the Ambazonia Defense Forces, a militant faction of the Ambazonia Governing Council. His leadership has included actions detrimental to the local population, such as kidnapping for ransom and targeting unarmed civilians. Additionally, his enforcement of a so-called liberation tax has further burdened locals by seizing their hard-earned money.
