Interview

Too many bushpaths along Eyumojock borders

           -Nkom Julius, Mayor of Eyumojock

**Eyumojock has easily become the epicenter of hostilities in the current crisis. What is the situation in Eyumojock as we speak?

Nkom Julius, Mayor of Eyumojock

--I should say normalcy is gradually returning and some people who had escaped and taken asylum elsewhere are gradually returning. But I must say that a few months back most of the villages in Eyumojock were complete shadows of themselves; villages like Ewelle, Kembong, Otu, Nsanakang, Nsanarakati, Agborkim German, Akwen and even Eyumojock main town itself were all completely void of people. Some did not count even one person staying there. And this is because of the morbid fear our people have for military men. We had never seen such a high influx of soldiers in our villages and towns before. At times the soldiers came in several truckloads. So, when our people saw this they told themselves that war has finally been brought to them. And they had no option than to use the back door and flee into the bushes. And given the huge numbers of the military, it was very difficult for us to convince the people that the soldiers were coming instead to protect them; all they believed was that they had come to kill them. The excesses of some of these soldiers did not help matters for us. Some of them beat up just whoever they met on the streets. This only scared the villagers away. However, I must use this medium to also address a general message of condolence to all our compatriots both civilians and military, who have fallen ever since the hostilities escalated in Eyumojock. I pray that God takes control of the situation and bring things back to normalcy.

**Many people are asking why is Manyu in general and Eyumojock in particular the center of hostilities in this crisis?

--This is for obvious reasons. Almost 60 percent of the border of Manyu with Nigeria is Eyumojock. Also, along the length of this border is a river, this only makes the frontier very porous. Also Eyumojock is covered by dense forests with thousands of footpaths. So just anybody can take a footpath in the forest and cross over to the other side of the frontier. That is why I can tell you with conviction that most of the atrocities that occurred here were not committed by Eyumojock children. Our only worry is that we never got the signals so as to inform the security. But I can assure you that the atrocities were not committed by Eyumojock children. The Eyumojock man is not used to shedding blood. We are a peace-loving people. The Manyu man is someone who wakes up in the morning, sharpens his cutlass and goes to the bush to either farm, hunt or tap palm wine. When he returns from the bush he joins his friends in small groups and they drink together, and sing and even dance. That is the daily routine of the typical Manyu man. We are not a warlike people. We love ourselves and our neighbours. That is why i insist that the present hostilities are not by Manyu children. But our innocent people are now the ones suffering because the incidents took place in our area. That is why our elites have come to reassure these innocent victims that their brothers are thinking of them and that they will not be left to themselves.

**How do you react to this solidarity gesture by Manyu people towards their displaced brothers and sisters?

--My heart can only be filled with joy and I seize this opportunity on behalf of the people of Eyumojock to say a big thank you to the initiators and organizers of this project. Though coming a little late it is better late than never. For the people of Manyu to be the first to carry out such a gesture is a sign that blood is thicker than water. That is why I say many thanks to MEDWC and to the Minister, Victor Mengot who patronized, advised and directed the project. I pray God to continue giving our Minister the strength and wisdom to continue working for Manyu; I think he is the right man for Manyu at this time.

**As the Mayor of this locality have you initiated any personal move to try and get some of the people now living in Nigeria to return?

--Of course I have. And we have succeeded to bring back some of the populations of a village like Nsanakang. Many of them where afraid but we reassured them that all was well. I gave my car and hired other cars to transport them back to the village from Nigeria. The DO provided security. When they arrived in the village and saw the military, some started panicking. But we reassured them. We even brought the military guys to talk to them. Today the former refugees are fully installed in the village. But many others are still unwilling to return. They say they cannot stand the scary presence of soldiers in their villages. We hope they will sooner than later, realize the role of the security forces and start returning.

**So what message for the administration and the security forces?

--They should understand that the populations of Eyumojock are not their enemies. The Manyu man loves people, especially strangers. The security men who were here before the crisis can attest to this. So all we are saying is that we must work together to get back to that situation of love and mutual co-existence like in the past. We must continue living as friends and brothers whether we are civilians or military. Let peace return so that Eyumojock can develop.

**What message for your population, especially the displaced ones?

--I want to tell them to have confidence in the administration, the security forces and in their elites. They should understand that nobody has the interest to see them in pains. They should return home and continue with their activities because the military is here to protect them, be with them and share with them until normalcy returns.