Vox Pop

What is your reaction to the arrest of Sisiku and others, and how do you think it will affect the Anglophone crisis?

Following the arrest on Friday 5 January of the interim leader of the so-called “Ambazonia” Republic, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and other members of his government, some residents of Buea and Kumba have expressed indignation at the arrest, saying it may only stir further violence.. But others said the arrest is necessary as it would pave the way for a return to normalcy. Yet others said dialogue is of the essence

Vox Pop conducted by Boris Esono in Buea & Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

The struggle will beintensified

- Walla Derick, Teacher

This struggle is a people’s struggle and not a one man show. So if the intension of the government is to collapse the struggle through the arrest of the leaders then it is a big mistake. When the consortium was banned and the leaders arrested, it made the struggle more radical. Now we have something bigger than the consortium that’s why a new leadership has been put in place headed by Barr Bobga Harmony.

No dialogue without arrested leaders

-Tamfu Ciduan, radio animator

The much needed dialogue that has been preached by president Biya will not be able to hold if the arrested Ambazonia leaders are not released. Even though they were arrested in Nigeria many people still belief government has a hand in their abduction.

It will usher needed dialogue

- Mukwelle Moses, Farmer

It is a very sad situation to arrest the Ambazonian leaders. The arrest will force many to come to the dialogue table for the commencement of the much needed dialogue. The revolution is a mentality thing so even if government doesn’t release them to dialogue with them, the crisis will continue.

It shows the weakness of International community

- Arrey Bernard, trader

It is an unfortunate as well as a mess which reveals the powerless nature of international organisations like the United Nations, African Union and others on the burning Anglophone crisis. This is so because when Sisiku and his team dragged La Republic to the international court nothing was done on the killings in the country just like now that they are saying nothing on the issue. The arrest therefore has worsened the situation of the crisis as it will instead kill the dialogue that many people and praying for.

The leaders can now be forced to dialogue

- Ngama Esther, Student

I belief the arrest is an attempt to force the leaders to dialogue with government on the way forward to end the crisis because there is nothing else that they can do to them after this arrest. At this point in time the leaders have no other choice but to sit and dialogue with government and bring peace in the two Anglophone regions.

The arrest is masterminded by Yaoundé

- Forcha John, Bike rider

I think this arrest was masterminded by the Yaounde authorities because individuals could not have the powers to go and arrest the leaders in Nigeria with them having and agreement with the Nigerian government on the issue. The struggle is a genuine struggle and will continue even without the arrested leaders. Biya has failed to dialogue as was prescribe by many foreign bodies so the only thing left for him is to intimidate the leaders through unlawful arrest.

The arrest is welcome

- Ittia Bruno, IRIC Student

The arrest of Sisiku and his gang of criminals is an initiative that has to be lauded. This is because of the open conspiracy that these guys have against the state of Cameroon. They have wreaked havoc against the population putting serious pain, torture, frustration on the lives of innocent Cameroonians. They have encouraged lots of arson arts and violence on the population. 

It may provoke further violence

- Fred Nganji

The arrest of Sisiku is going to bring problems in the country and will lead to a further escalation of violence. I hope he is not tortured because that might further anger his millions of supporters who may decide to take to the streets to protest his arrest. And this will not be good for a country which is going through troubled times at the moment.

It will bring back stability

-Mokem Mokem

It is good that Sisikou was arrested because his arrest will go a long way to bring stability as far as the crisis is concerned. The burning down of schools and ghost towns were all orchestrated by him. With this arrest, dialogue should be the next step. I mean frank dialogue, not what the government has been saying since the start of the problem.

Their arrest is no big deal

-Tanjong Levis

                There is no big deal as to how people are putting it on social media. For them to hold a meeting in Abuja means the Nigerian government is in support of them which they are not.

Gov’t should dialogue with the leaders

- Gaius Niconor Djomo

The arrest of Sisiku has come to stir up the problem. The government should sit and discuss with those warrant parties to see how to bring an end to the present socio-political crisis in the country.

Arrest or no arrest, the crisis should stop

- Nzi Giyo

I hear the arrest was done by the Nigerian secret service and not gunmen from Cameroon as some sources claimed. If the Cameroon government wants to dialogue with them, then there should be no need arresting them. But if dialogue is not envisaged then the government might have instigated their arrest. But what is important to me is for the present crisis to come to an end because human beings are dying and this does not comfort us.