Detained Bangolan Notables Charged With Non-Possession of ID Cards, Unwillingness To Collaborate With Forces Fighting Separatists

Several families in Bangolan, a village in Cameroon’s North West Region have gone for close to 20 days without their fathers. The men, notables of the Fondom were arrested on May 13th 2020 and held for several days in a military barrack before being taken to prison.

Reports say the notables now have charges against them and will be taken to court in the days ahead. A source says “they have been charge with non-possession of ID cards and for not collaborating with the military in Bangolan to arrest amba boys”.

One of the arrested notables, a source adds, was released on the basis of his advanced age and will only appear in court when need arises.

“The rest were sent to prison to await trial which begins next Thursday,” he explains.

While they are charged for non-possession of national ID cards, sympathisers and family members of the notables say they were not given the opportunity to collect them at the time of their arrest.

Some Bangolan natives however insist the notables’ arrest is as a result of the raging chieftaincy conflict that arose in 2016. A video later emerged on social media in which wives of the jailed notables pleaded for their husbands to be released.

The armed soldiers, they said, have been coming to take food from them but won’t permit them meet their husbands.

Senator Fon Chafah Isaac XI, accused of masterminding the arrest, has made no formal response yet.

Mimi Mefo Info