After over three months in captivity, the Divisional Officer (DO) of Idabato in Cameroon’s South West Region, Mr. Ewane Roland, has confirmed his survival through a distressing voice message MMI received on Monday, January 13.
The voice note, which we obtained from a close associate of the kidnapped DO, reveals his urgent plea for intervention.
“Good evening, Mr. Prefect. Please, I’m making this voice note to say that we are still alive. This is Ewane Roland, the DO of Idabato,” he says.
He continues: “Please see what you can do to help me, to help us. The problem is the prisoners. My family has been able to raise some money. We are sick here, please. Tell the Governor to forward this message to the Minister, His Excellency Mr. Atanga Nji. Help us; don’t let us die in the hands of these people.”
The DO indicated that the kidnappers are growing more impatient and could kill him and Etongo Ismael, a worker of the Idabato Council who kidnapped alongside the DO on October 1, 2024.
The DO said they have been sick.
Since their kidnap, Mr Ewane and Mr Etongo have only been seen once—in a distressing video in which they were being severely tortured.
Background on Idabato DO’s Kidnapping
The Divisional Officer was kidnapped around 2 am on October 1 after armed invaders broke into his residence at Idabato, a maritime town in the once-disputed Bakassi Peninsula.
The area, 90 percent of whose inhabitants are Nigerians, is a fertile ground has been prone to attacks by pirates and Biafra separatists from Nigeria.
Mr Ewane Roland and Etongo Ismael were kidnapped by armed men believed to have crossed over from Nigeria.
Local authorities attribute the kidnapping to Nigerian pirates and have detained several Nigerian nationals living in Idabato.
Demands for Ransom
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of 5 million US dollars, but later dropped the amount.
The family has been struggling to raise the money but their efforts are limited. The government has reportedly not made any financial provisions to secure the DO’s release.
Aside from the money, the kidnappers also want the government to release their associates currently detained in Cameroonian prisons.
However, MMI could not independently verify the number of prisoners or the details of their detention.
Mr. Ewane Roland’s voice message hinted that they could be freed in the coming days if the kidnappers meet their demands promptly.
He states that his family works to raise the money the pirates demand, but everything hinges on the government, which should facilitate the prisoners’ release.
Government Response Under Scrutiny
While Mr. Ewane Roland’s family has made considerable efforts to secure his release, the government’s response has been widely criticized.
The Minister of Territorial Administration (MINAT), Paul Atanga Nji, has remained silent on the matter.
It took seven weeks before the government officially acknowledged the kidnapping, with the Minister of Communication, René Emmanuel Sadi, addressing it on November 22, 2024.
He assured the public that efforts were underway to secure the DO’s release, but since then, there has been no update.
The family has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s apparent inaction.
MMI has learned that the Presidency instructed MINAT to prioritize the DO’s release, but tangible progress remains unseen.
Questioned about the subject during the November session of Parliament, Minister Paul Atanga Nji also said they were making efforts to get the DO released.
But the fruits of these efforts remain the be felt.
The government’s prolonged silence after the DO’s kidnapping prompted opposition leader, Prof MauriDO Ewane, a representative of the President, faced abduction while serving in a war zone. Two months later, the President remains silent.ce Kamto, to question its commitment to rescuing the DO.
Just days before the government’s official statement, Kamto remarked:
“Do our leaders have a heart? DO Ewane, a representative of the President, faced abduction while serving in a war zone. Two months later, the President remains silent. Should it be necessary to remind everyone that his mere presence in such a volatile area is an act of courage and dedication to the Republic?”
Critics expressed further dismay when President Paul Biya neglected to address the DO’s abduction in his end-of-year speech.
A Call for Greater Engagement
Although Divisional Officers report to Senior Divisional Officers, Governors, and the Minister of Territorial Administration, they also serve as direct representatives of the President in their jurisdictions.
The families of Ewane Roland and Etonge Ismael believe that more proactive government involvement could have secured their release much earlier.
