SDO Refutes Claims of Xenophobic Attacks in Biya’s Region

The Senior Divisional Officer for Ntem Valley Division in the South Region of Cameroon, Bouba Haman, has dismissed claims about xenophobic attacks against strangers living in the Southern town of Meyo-Centre last week.

Bouba Haman’s statement dating February 24, acknowledges an outburst of violence and destruction in Meyo-Centre, but said reports that this violence targeted strangers are false.

Xenophobic violence is not new in Cameroon, especially in the South Region, the birth place of President Paul Biya.

Residents in the region have in the past attacked people with opposing political views, including militants of the Social Democratic Front and the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, which are opposition President Biya’s long-serving regime.

Last week’s violence, prompted by the death of two people, was quickly linked to xenophobia, especially as attacks reportedly targeted people from other Regions.

How the Attacks Started

Last week, two people died in Meyo-Centre in the South Region of Cameroon, prompting what many saw as xenophobic violence against English-speaking Cameroonians living in the town.

Violence erupted after authorities discovered the body of Ondoa Bee Theodore, a native of the Meyo-Centre area, on February 20.

Before that, Batcha Gideon Atangana, a native of Santa in the North West Region residing in Meyo-Centre, suffered a brutal killing, and someone dumped his body in front of a pub owned by Mbipeh Konyu Sylvain, who also hails from the North West Region.

Meyo-Centre residents went on a rampage after discovering Ondoa’s body.

They apparently believed his killing was a vengeful act from North Westerners living in Meyo-Centre.

The irate residents overturned mobile money kiosks and vandalized structures reportedly belonging to North Westerners and other non-indigenes of the town.

They also blocked national road no. 12.

Two people sustained injuries from the violence and were receiving treatment at the Meyo-Centre District Hospital.

But in a release, which comes nearly one week since the violence, the SDO for Ntem Valley Division denied that the violence was xenophobic.

Bouba Haman denounced what he termed misinformation about xenophobic attacks and affirmed that the administration had restored calm.

He asked people to “be more vigilant and to denounce any act likely to compromise social cohesion or to mow down the harmonious living together” in Ntem Valley.

The SDO said the Ntem Valley Division “remains and continues to be a peaceful, welcoming and hospitable administrative unit where citizens of all backgrounds go about their daily business without fear or worry”.