KumbeBakundu:

Villagers urge energy Supply Company to appease the gods

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Some angry villagers from Kumbe

L-R Director of CDSTS, Mathew Simen, Director of RedSTS,  Meme SDO and 5th batch of Graduates

Bakundu in Konye Sub Division in Meme division of the southwest region have forcefully demanded compensation from the Kaboni Energy Group specialized in electricity transformation. The compensation The Median gathered is to be used to perform libation in the land before the Kaboni Energy Group will be allowed to proceed with their project. The demands come after the irate youths destroyed the equipment of Kaboni Energy Group. 

                According reports from the communication department of the Konye Council Community radio revealed that a group of people stormed one of the chosen sites of Kaboni to generate electricity and destroyed their equipment ruthlessly.

                The reports revealed the youths destroyed cements, dragged away equipment destroyed as well as the forcing of scoop sands on land into the river. We gathered that the group of disgruntle youths who effected the act are alleged to have performed it under instructions from some elderly persons from MbakwaSupe and Wone who don't want the project to be materialized.

                This reporter further gathered from the Konye council communication department that, a secret meeting prior to the destruction of the Kaboni site in Kumbe is alleged to have taken place at the residence of a certain James Lobe, formerly employee of Kaboni Energy Group. After the incident it is revealed that Lobe James alongside the Traditional Ruler of Wone, Njasomo Martin, the Head Council of Wone, Disume and some 3 other persons have been summoned at the Konye Gendarmerie Brigade over the issue.

                The communication department revealed that Elume Wright, a technician from Supe, had written a complaint indicating that the men disguised their faces, destroyed property and planted some frightful plants like terrorists. The Head Council for Wone, Disume in a crisis meeting called recently by the D.O, at the Sub Prefecture on the matter said the project would never materialize.

                For his part, James Lobe during a recent consultation meeting in MbakwaSupe by Kaboni, demonstrated his unwillingness to corporate with Officials of Kaboni and rather prefer claiming fabulous compensation to the tune of over FCFA 10 million francs. The Traditional Ruler of Wone, following a chat with  Awambeng Jude Tani, Project Director for Kaboni had begged for Kaboni to visit his village in bid to pure libation as was done in some other 4 villages in the municipality like Matoh, Matondo l, Kumbe and MbakwaSupe. He indicated that Mr. Jude told him, his village was not earmarked for the libation. He said the other villages were chosen among the 36 villages in Konye Sub-Division because they had potentials to generate electricity through their waterfalls. He wondered aloud what could be causing people behaving at such when the project is for the benefit of the entire community.