By Tata Mbunwe
Authorities in Buea have been presented 11 boys believed to be ex-separatist fighters who dropped their arms.
They are said to have denounced the ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
The combatants, led by General Tiger, are reportedly from Alou, one of the separatist strongholds in Lebialem Division, in Cameroon’s restive South West region.
Before being taken to the Southwest Governor’s Office, the ex-fighters had first been taken to the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Centre in Buea, where they were disarmed and dressed in DDR T-shirts.
According to one of the repentant fighters, “the war is very dangerous and that is why I decided to stop fighting and give-up arms”.
Dozens of guns of several calibre, reportedly used by the repentant fighters, alongside iron bars and other weapons, were presented to the public.
DDR Centre Buea (MMI)
According to their leader, General Tiger, most of their friends in the camps “need just a little persuasion and assurance to drop arms”.
The fighters said nothing about warlord, Field Marshall, who has been in control of Lebialem since the start of the crisis.
There have also been reports of poor treatment of the ex-combatants at the various DDR centres in the North West and South West regions.
(C) Mimi Mefo Info
