In the wake of heightened tension and street protests in Bambili, Mayor Tanjong Martin of Tubah Council has appealed for calm among the residents. The unrest stems from a longstanding land dispute between Bambili and Nkwen villages.
Speaking on Thursday, November 23, in Bambili, Mayor Tanjong addressed a crowd of agitated women and youth, urging restraint and emphasising the need to await the intervention of the state to address the complex land issue.
“I have called for calm. We cannot sacrifice life for land. In the 21st century, we are still fighting, killing, and destroying properties for land. I have called on my people to be calm. Let’s follow the law; we in Tubah believe in law and not aggression,” Mayor Tanjong stated.
Accompanied by the Divisional Officer (DO) of Tubah, Massango Metouge Narcisse, the Mayor stressed the importance of a final solution from the state to enable people to live peacefully. He appealed for swift action to bring an end to the conflict so that residents could resume their daily lives.
Mayor Tanjong also called for a halt to the burning of houses and the destruction of properties at the scene, addressing those involved in these activities. “If it is non-Bambili people burning these houses, we are calling for an immediate stop to this ill activity,” he asserted.
The recent unrest saw houses in Bambili reportedly set ablaze at the borderland with Nkwen on Thursday, November 23. In response, angered residents of Bambili mobilized, attributing the act to individuals hired to commit atrocities. Some accused the people of Nkwen of pushing them out to sell their lands.
The disputed land is situated around the Bamenda industrial zone, bordering Bambili, Bambui, and Nkwen. The conflict, with roots stretching back several years, has yet to receive comments from other authorities at the time of this report.
