Fon Richard Muntong III, the traditional ruler of Bamessing in Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region, has denounced a compulsory levy imposed on indigenes by armed separatist fighters in the area.
Militants of the Ambazonia separatist struggle taxed residents in amounts ranging from FCFA 3,000 to 50,000, according to locals.
“It has come to our notice that a group of individuals, self-proclaimed as Amba Boys, are coercing and extorting illegal contributions from the people of Nsei (Bamessing),” the Fon said in a press release.
Terming the levy illegal, the traditional ruler said, “It is causing great distress and harm to our community.”
According to reports, the fighters had set June 10, 2024, as the deadline for villagers to comply with the levy.
Discouraging his kinsmen from such contributions, Fon Muntong III said the money would be misused for activities that do not benefit the village.
“These forced contributions will be misused by the so-called Amba boys to illegally purchase ammunition to fight against the state and their own people,” the traditional ruler cautioned.
Recalling the atrocities committed by the fighters, he reminded villagers, “They have been senselessly killing our beloved sons and daughters in the name of blacklegs. The number of lives lost due to the actions of these individuals far surpasses the casualties resulting from the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West Region of our beloved country Cameroon in Nsei.
“As the Paramount Fon of Nsei, I unequivocally denounce these illegal contributions and call upon all members of the Nsei community, both at home and abroad, not to give any form of support to these criminal activities,” he stated.
He called for unity amongst villagers against the forceful contributions and asked: “these so-called Amba Boys to follow the Head of state’s call to drop their arms and join the DDR centers to gain freedom and forgiveness for their sins”.
Bamessing is one of the localities that have been hard-hit by the armed conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking Regions.
Inhabitants say separatists’ activities in the locality have brought untold hardship to them, forcing many, including the traditional ruler, to flee and seek refuge elsewhere.
