Matazem toll gate erected in the wake of Anglophone conflict dismantled

By Soulemanu Buba

The security checkpoint at Matazem, a locality in Santa sub division of the North West region had been dismantled.

The control post had long been baptised a border crossing between the North West and West regions of the country.

It’s is not clear if the border crossing has been dismantled perminently.

Those who have used that stretch of road traveling in and out of Bamenda from the West region say it is a huge relieve.

They were hitherto forced to descend from their vehicles to trek long distances before presenting identification documents to soldiers on both sides of the crossing.

“I was taken aback yesterday Tuesday August 9 2022 when we got to Santa and realised that the check point was not there. We were already preparing to steep down and identify ourselves as usual,” said a commuter.

“It’s a good thing the police are not there because it also means female passengers will not be sexually harassed and passengers extorted as the case has always been. Crossing that area came with so many uncertainties and security risks,” a passenger, Tebit Mark told MMI.

The Matazem checkpoint was erected as a result of the Anglophone crisis where the former toll gate used to be.

The tollgate was forced to shut down by Ni John Fru Ndi, National chairman of the Social Democratic Front SDF political party because of the bad state of the road.

There are those who say they are praying and hoping that the situation remains like that while wishing that separatist fighters operating around that area don’t take advantage of the vacuum and start troubling the locals.

Mimi Mefo Info