Amidst a surge in violence, residents of Upper Banyang villages are abandoning their homes, grappling with fear as an Ambazonian separatist faction, headed by the infamous Ako Giant, wreaks havoc in the region.
“In January 2023, Ako Giant buried a young man alive because we could not provide all the money he asked for,” revealed a villager from Besobia.
Mimi Mefo Info (MMI) earlier reported about an impending attack by the separatists, which forced many of the villagers to flee. This led to a response by the Cameroon military, resulting in the deaths of four separatists and a civilian. Ako Giant himself was not among them, and this led the fleeing villagers to see no reason yet to return home.
MMI’s reporter caught up with some of the villagers who had fled Upper Banyang in the South West Region, to Widikum in the North West Region and they narrated a tale of horror. According to them, their predominantly agricultural community was one of the first places that descended into chaos and desperation, with villagers subjected to untold sufferings at the hands of Ako Giant’s group. Testimonies from the villagers suggest that the Ambazonian leader’s faction is behind a series of brutal attacks, including arson, looting, and targeted killings.
“This February 2024, he demanded 5 million FRS CFA, threatening to mutilate us, burn our homes, and destroy cocoa farms if we failed to comply,” recounted another villager. “Fearing the repercussions, we had no option but to flee.”
Expressing the imminent threat, a villager from Ajayi, who chose to remain anonymous, stated, “I am running away because I fear being killed by Ako Giant and his group. They entered our homes, setting everything ablaze and taking whatever they pleased. Fleeing was our only means of survival.”
The presence of Ako Giant, a name evoking fear among many in the region, intensifies the sense of dread among the villagers, marking him as a symbol of the escalating conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
“We are helpless; he has been raping us and our daughters. He even raped a pregnant woman to death,” disclosed Agem, a resident of Besobia. “I managed to escape with seven out of my nine children; the others are still in hiding.”
For over a week, residents from eleven villages have abandoned their homes, seeking refuge in the wilderness.
“My son was bitten by a snake as we fled,” shared Akwe, a resident of Ebangabi village.
“My body is covered in rashes; we slept on dry leaves in the bushes,” recounted another villager.
While thousands have sought refuge in the wilderness, only a few hundred have managed to cross to Widikum Sub Division.
Local authorities have condemned the Ambazonian group’s actions, urging calm during the crisis.
“We are tirelessly working to ensure the safety of all residents in the area,” assured Fouda Etaba Benoit Nicaise, the Senior Divisional Officer for Momo, who visited Internally Displaced Persons with gifts from the presidential couple, Paul and Mrs. Chantal Biya.
As Upper Banyang villagers seek shelter in neighboring towns, the plight of those affected by the violence worsens. Humanitarian organizations are providing aid to the displaced, but the road to recovery remains uncertain for those shattered by Ako Giant’s group.
“We feel relieved to receive the Head of State’s special gift, even if it will only last for a few days,” expressed a beneficiary.
The situation in Upper Banyang serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges facing Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, where violence and instability have become distressingly commonplace.
Calls for Government Assistance
Upper Banyang villagers are appealing to the government for urgent assistance in addressing the crisis.
“We want the government to help us by establishing a military base; otherwise, our villages will be obliterated,” pleaded Patrick, a concerned villager.
“The government should maintain our roads and rebuild the bridges destroyed by Ako Giant and his group,” insisted another villager.
The hope for peace and stability in the region remains a distant but fervent wish as more people continue to flee Upper Banyang.
