Atanga Nji Bans Use of Thugs to Recover Debts, Evict Tenants

The Minister of Territorial administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has banned Cameroonians from using private militia to recover debts or evict tenants from houses.

In a recent communique instructing Regional Governors to take action, he said the issue is alarming.

According to Atanga Nji, procedures for the forced recovery of debts and evictions frequently use groups of people referred to as “thugs”.

This, he said, is supposed to be the work of law enforcement officers, and there is a legal framework on how to go about recovering debts.

“These thugs, sometimes acting in the form of militias in the pay of private individuals, are increasingly visible at land dispute sites,” the Minister wrote.

“These groups are most often characterised by actions that seriously undermine public order, characterised by assault, which themselves result from violence and brutality of all kinds,” he added.

Cases of property owners and creditors using bouncers to chase people out of their properties or force them to pay debts are rampant in Cameroon.

Nightclub bouncers often harass patrons, particularly when they are intoxicated. In Douala, for example, these bouncers have regrouped into an association, enabling them to act like a militia.

The Ministry of Territorial Administration does not recognise their activities.

Not also Backed By Law

“In this regard, Article 1, paragraph 3 of Law No. 97/021 of September 10, 1997, relating to private security activities, amended and supplemented by Law No. 2014/024 of December 23, 2014, clearly states that “the formation and maintenance of private militias are prohibited throughout the national territory,” Atanga Nji’s communique reads.

“Moreover, the use of public coercion in the context of forced debt recovery is carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of Law No. 2023/011 of July 25, 2023, governing guarantees and debt recovery by public entities benefiting from the treasury privilege.

“To this end, coercion holders and bailiffs may request the assistance of law enforcement forces, subject to the prior agreement of the Administrative Authorities to which they are assigned,” he added.

He said Governors should put a definitive end to this practice in their respective command units.

However, law enforcement officials occasionally use bouncers in conjunction with them to coerce individuals into complying with a specific demand.