Encroachment and Illegal Land Sale:

Who Owns Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve?

-SDO warns Small Ekombe and Kake II to steer clear of government property

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

The Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Chamberlin Ntou’ouNdong has told villagers of Small Ekombe in Mbonge Sub-Division and Kake in Kumba I subdivision to stop fighting over ownership of the Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve which is government’s property. The SDO has also warned Small Ekombe villagers to drop their plan to march to his office.

                The SDO’s call for calm and restraint was made during a brief emergency conclave at his office. In the meeting, the SDO schooled Mr. Gabriel who claims to have bought 30 hectares of the reserve from the Kake II chiefdom as to what it takes to purchase a forest reserve as well as the various complications that may ensue in the course of the process as prescribe by law.

                He expressed with shock and disbelief that the said Gabriel who was instead allocated a parcel of land for community development is now chasing farmers from cultivating in the government reserve with the pretext that he bought the land. The SDO has promised to release a communique to clear the air on the issue.

                The SDO’s administrative caution calling for calm comes days after close to 200 farmers of the Southern Bakundu forest which stretches from Small Ekombeplanned a protest march to the SDO’s office to express their anger over the illegal sale of 30 hectares of the government forest reserve to an individual by the Kake II traditional council.

                The villagers stated that a certain individual by name Gabriel has been disturbing them from farming at their own portion of the forest reserve where they have being cultivating for decades now under the pretext that the land has been sold to him by the Kake II traditional council. 

                The villagers explained for decades now they has been no problem in the farm until Kake II natives started approaching, claiming they are in total control of the reserve adding that matters got worst when Mr. Gabriel emerge since last year chasing them away. the villagers have vowed that if nothing is done by the administration then much blood will be shed on the land as they cannot allow their food crops and farm land for an individual.

                On his part, the Chief of Small Ekombe, Kombe Lawrence has slated his people have constantly been disturbed by the people of Kake II noting that if not for his level headedness and call for calm the farmers would have long launch a fight in the reserve that would have resulted to loss of lives and much property. To him, the constant problem is as a result of the boundary problem where his front palace is located in Mbonge sub-division while the back part of his palace is located in Kumba I sub division.

                It should be recalled that SDOfor Meme Chamberlin Ntou'ouNdongordered for the arrest of the chairman of the Kake II traditional council, Besingi John alongside two other individuals considered as accomplices to the shady deals that amounted to FCFA 6 million. The arrest was over the same concern when over 400 women stormed his office to express their dissatisfaction to the sale of portions of the southern Bakundu forest by the traditional council chairman.

                The then Divisional Delegate of Forestry and Wildlife, KennethEnowEyong, revealed that measures were taken to resolve the disturbing issues surrounding the southern Bakundu forest noting that a decision has been taken to come out with a management committee that will take care of all the activities in the forest.