Anglophone Crisis: North West shutting down as Government, Separatists Battle for Supremacy

The Anglophone crisis that has now clocked five years has taken a new turn. This is manifest in all efforts and actions aimed at showing that either the government or separatists are in control of things especially in the Northwest region.

The senior divisional officer for Mezam Simo Emile placed a 3-month ban on the circulation of motor bikes in Bali sub division weeks back following the killing of five elements of the defense forces by separatists.

The separatists in a show off also placed a ban on the movement of cars in the area, affecting the entire Bamenda Enugu corridor stretch.

Since then, the population has been suffering, trekking, running out of medicine and food while the government and separatists look on.

In Bambui, the military recently arrested some 8 drivers plying the Bambui- Mbingo stretch accusing them of sympathizing with terrorists by conducting a park election in a separatist’s camp in Bambui.

In response, the separatists used private and public transport vehicles to block the Bambui-Fundong road.

Till date, they have left the entire Boyo division and parts of Tubah sub division cut off.

Hospitals, food supplies and medication can’t reach hospitals in Boyo and food or passengers can’t reach Bamenda from Boyo.

On Saturday August 7th, separatist’s fighters under the command of  self-declared ‘General’ no pity blocked the Ndop road around Babessi aimed at arm-twisting the government to set free family members of his family arrested by the military.

The road block cuts off Bui, Ndonga-Mantung and parts of Ngohkehtunjia division. Businesses have been grounded, as foodstuff that used to reach even Douala and Yaoundé have now been cut off with no hope of the blockades lifted any time soon.

By Timfuchi Aaron