Anglophone Crisis: Runaway Bafut Mayor blames ‘foreigners’ for insecurity in Municipality

By Soulemanu Buba

The Mayor of Bafut, located in one of the seven Subdivisions that make up Mezam Division of the Northwest Region, has blamed foreigners and people from neighboring areas for the raging insecurity in the Municipality.

Mayor Ngwakongoh Lawrence made the remark during celebrations of the 38th anniversary of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement party, CPDM, in Bamenda on Friday, March 23.

“Bafut sons who were fighting against the government of Cameroon have laid down their weapons and those causing trouble in the name of separatists are boys from neighboring villages,” said the Mayor.

He also called on “traditional rulers keeping separatist fighters in their communities” to send them out so that peace could return to the Municipality.

Though located just few kilometres from Bamenda, Northwest Regional capital, Bafut has remained embattled throughout the six years of armed conflict in the English-speaking Regions.

Separatist groups have continued launching attacks on soldiers and government structures in the Municipality.

Consequently, the Bafut Mayor and other Council staff have been forced to relocate Bamenda, from where they have been running the Municipality for years now.

In Bamenda, the Bafut Council is lodged in the same building as Bamenda I Council, situated at Up Station.

But Bafut is not the only Municipal Council in the Northwest and Southwest Regions that has relocated it services due to armed conflict.

Many other Municipal Councils, including those of Bali, Batibo, Belo and Menji are operating from elsewhere due to insecurity.

All these Municipal Councils are manned by Mayors and Councillors belonging to the CPDM political party, which is considered by separatists as an enemy.

The party’s Chairman Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon for 40 years now and many have blamed the ranging armed conflict on his Government’s policies.

Mimi Mefo Info