Bamenda: CAMWATER official remains in captivity as separatists demand 10 Million FCFA ransom

A top official of water utility agency, CAMWATER in the North West Region of Cameroon has been abducted by separatist fighters.

Yesterday the fighters released a video of the official on his knees begging to be freed. A member of the group identified as the Ambazonian Defence Force, ADF speaking in the video, said the agency had failed to comply with their demands, the reason for the abduction.

Commenting on the situation, Capo Daniel of the ADF said they got hold of the official, due to CAMWATER’s failure to comply with the Ambazonia Governing Council’s “imposition of liberation tax on all multinationals and Cameroun companies operating in Ambazonia.”

“CAMWATER was asked to pay 10million Frs for this month’s liberation tax and stop charging Ambazonia citizens for the utilization of public taps,” he stated.

Insisting the sum of 10 Million FCFA must be paid for the official’s release, the separatist leader said they have also asked for civil disobedience towards the CAMWATER structure till their demands are met.

The armed separatists, he said, “… have ordered their main offices be shutdown and citizens should not attend their offices until they comply with the tax and provide public taps for free as it serves the poorest of our Communities.”

CAMWATER and other regional authorities are yet to make any official remarks over the abduction.