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The population of Massoumbou in Yabassi is furious over MINAT’s suspicious silence following the murder allegations surrounding their chief.
An accumulation of clashes in Massoumbou village, in Yabassi, Nkam Division, Littoral Region between the villagers and their chief may have seen a breaking point in relationship with no possibility of a repair.
The population of Massoumbou have now turned against the Ministry of Territorial Administration for its lack of action towards their chief, BAKAI Joseph despite several calls for the traditional ruler to be relieved off his functions.
The chief has been accused by his people for numerous misdeeds against his subordinates such as, intimidation, gross abuse of power, extortion of villager’s lands, defamation and above all, his involvement in an assassination case, dating back to 2013 of a certain Kell Appolinaire.
The chief has also been tried by the Yabassi Court of First Instance, where he was found guilty of abuse of office. He was sentenced alongside two others to 6 months in prison as well as a being charged to pay a fee of over 80,000frs.
Despite the charges, the villagers say the Chief still maintains his authority and panache which falls largely due to his suspicious alliance and complicity with the Divisional Officer for Nkam.
It is alleged that the mutually beneficial relationship that both men have, shields justice from taking its course against the traditional ruler.
The villagers also claim that the chief may have promised the D.O some plots of land as well as other benefits for his silence and backing. It is something which the villagers claim the chief always does when he meets a dead end, to escape the hands of justice.
The Divisional Officer on his part has equally been accused by the villagers of threatening them on several occasions to stop writing against the village chief.
In a strongly worded letter sent by the villagers of Massoumbou, they pleaded on the Ministry of Territorial Administration to take an action which is similar to that which was taken against the D.O for Kribi, who had reportedly killed his girlfriend while he cleaned his gun.
In the letter, the villagers state that he was immediately arrested on the orders of the Head of State and then consequently stripped off his position.
With regards to this, they have implored on the MINAT to suspend or dismiss Chief BAKAI Joseph with immediate effect. They are adamant that the Chief who is already very hated by his people, coupled with accusations of intimidations, abuse of office and assassination still walks free and holding a mantle of leadership.
