Works Minister Cowardly Cancels Visit to K’ba
By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba
 |
| Ministry of Public Works Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi |
Threats from ‘Ambazonia’ separatist fighters compelled
the Minister of Public Works to cancel a visit to some road construction sites
in Kumba, Meme division last week.
The
Secretary of State in the Ministry of Public Works cancelled his visit abruptly
fearing that his convoy might be ambushed by the ‘Ambazonia’ defense forces.
The
visit had to take the Secretary of State to the remaining portions of the Kumba-Mamfe
road. According a copy of the program that we procured, the visit was initially
slated for Tuesday 8 May 2018, but was postponed to Wednesday 9 May.
Upon
arriving at Buea Wednesday and after taking breakfast at the Buea Mountain
Hotel, the visit was annuled despite assurances of military protection along
the Buea-Kumba-Mamfe road.
The
minister cancelled his visit even though the Meme SDO had prepared some seven
military vehicles full with armed-to-the-teeth security men to welcome him at
the entrance into Meme.
After
waiting at the SDO’s office for close to three hours the military guys were
asked to return to their various posts. The DO’s, Mayors, Divisional Delegates
and journalists who were to accompany the Minster were all asked to return
home.
We
gathered that the visit was canceled following unfolding events at the
Muyuka-Kumba-Mamfe axis notably at Mbalangi, Ediki, Konye and Nguti, where
repeated clashes have been registered recently between government forces and
separatists fighters. The last of the clashes was on Sunday 6 May and Monday 7
May 2018 around Mbalangi.
It
should be recalled that defense forces spent hours on Sunday afternoon battling
with ‘Amba’ forces in the villages of Mbalangi and Ediki. The gun battles
disrupted traffic and caused many travelers heading to Kumba to return to Buea
while others who were about leaving Kumba for Buea and Douala had to postpone
their journeys.
In the
course of the gun battle continued till Monday, some houses and motorbikes were
set ablaze. The incident caused many inhabitants of the two villages to flee to
the bushes for safety.
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