Worsening crisis:

Ekondo-Titi Mayor Buried in K’ba, as ‘Amba Hit Boys’ Block Road to Ndian

-Reports say travel to Mbonge subdivision and Ndian division was impossible throughout the weekend as Ambazonia fighters mounted road blocks and collected tolls from commuters

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Ekondo-Titi Mayor Mbongo Alfred Ngoe has been buried in Kumba

Elements of the ‘Ambazonia Defense Force’, ADF, rendered thousands stranded in kumba and Ekondo-Titi last week after they blocked circulation of vehicles along the Kumba-Mbonge-Ekondo-Titi road. The road block followed the administrative ban on motorbikes across some towns and divisions in the Southwest Region for a period of 7-10 days renewable.

            The ‘Ambazonia’ soldiers for all throughout last week blocked the road thus making circulation of goods and persons impossible between Meme and Ndian divisions.

            They first blocked the road on Saturday 10 March 2018 leaving commuters stranded for hours in both Kumba and Ekondo-Titi.

            They blocked the road again on Friday 16 March 2018 for close to six hours, thereby compelling family members to bury the Mayor of Ekondo-Titi, Mbongo Alfred Ngoe, in Kumba. The Mayor died on Friday 2 March 2018.

            Sources close to the family of the late Mayor told The Median that when they learned of the road block by the Amba guys some family members proposed that they seek military assistance from the Meme SDO to escort the corpse to Ekondo-Titi. Yet others suggested that they avoid the risk and bury the corpse in Kumba.

            It is however not immediately clear if the military assistance was denied them. But we can confirm that no mourners could travel to Kumba from Ekondo-Titi to witness the coffining of the corpse at the Kumba Mortuary on Friday.

            With the family helpless, they had no option than to transport the corpse to the family compound at Danikas quarters in Kumba. Meanwhile a grave was hurriedly dug in Ntancha quarters in Kumba III sub-division where the Mayor was buried.

            Reports on Friday morning also indicated that a township Taxi in Kumba was set ablaze by the ‘Ambazonia’ soldiers around the locality of Kake, while several recalcitrant drivers who mustered the courage to drive across the road block were stopped, pulled out of their vehicles, severely trashed and dispossessed of their money. 

            Interestingly, the ‘Ambazonia gunmen’ blocked the road on Friday after they had allegedly collected the sum of over FCFA 500 000 from the Mayor’s family members on Thursday to allow the corpse to be brought to Ekondo-Titi, we were told.

            Born on 15 December 1964 in Bisoro Balue, late Mayor Alfred Ngoe was a graduate from the Agriculture School Bambili. Before becoming Mayor of Ekondo-Titi, he had served successively as chief of the Agriculture post in Muyuka, Dikome Balue, Mundongo, Malende and Ngayo Kikome.

He was also one-time sub-divisional delegate for agriculture at Dikome Balue and Ekondo-Titi. He joined the CPDM in 1985 and served in various capacities notably as YCPDM Section president and Section Secretary.

            He became Mayor of Ekondo-Titi after the 2013 municipal election.