Ndop On Lockdown; Socioeconomic Activities Crippled As Armed Conflicts Deepens

The once vibrant Ndop, chief town of Ngoketunjia Division, Northwest Region, is now a shadow of itself.

Heavy fighting between the military of Cameroon and Pro-Independence fighters, have crippled the socioeconomic activities of the town.

According to sources on the field investigation, a town that hitherto had slightly above 40,000 inhabitants (2017), is now a dead and no-go area.

From Bamali, Bambalang, through Bamessing to Bamunka, the story remains the same, the burning of houses, adorn with killings and the smoking sound of guns, only paralyse normalcy, as people seek refuge in safer zones.

“Places are very dry and empty. Over 70% of inhabitants have escaped. The few you find around, are stranded sick women and children who cannot run away. It’s a total war situation over here with Amba fighters and the military shooting almost every day. All government offices are closed, State Council Office and taxation office are burnt, council office closed. SONEL and SNEC closed completely,” an eyewitness recount.

As the fighting deepens, the number of internally displaced persons soars, many run to seek refuge to safer areas.

The usual features that have characterise the Anglophone crisis like burning of houses, arbitrary arrests and kidnappings, maiming, and looting, to name but these few.