Mbonge Subdivision:

Military Beat-up Villagers as Chief is Buried

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

A Traditional ruler in Mbonge Sub-Division, who opted to remain anonymous, has told The Median that Chiefs in the subdivision were forced by threats from Ambazonia Tigers to boycott the burial of their colleague, HRH Chief Ekebe Johanes Niongo of Ngongo village, who was killed recently. The chief revealed that the corpse of their slain colleague was removed from the Kumba District Hospital by family members, but no traditional ruler mustered the courage to be present at the mortuary, not to talk of attending the burial. 

                He said that due to the death threats from unknown persons loyal to the separatist Ambazonia movement they were forced to leave the burial of their colleague in the hands of “Ambazonia Tigers”.

                “Because of the threats, we are now forced to go about without our traditional regalia and to stay out of our chiefdoms. This is because any chief spotted with the traditional wear is targeted for assassination,” the chief said. 

                Our source also revealed that two days after the burial of Chief Ekebe Johannes by Ambazonia enthusiasts, soldiers stormed the village beating up villagers. He said the military questioned why the villagers allowed Ambazonia supporters to bury their chief.

                It should be recalled that late Chief Ekebe Johannes Niongo was assassinated along the Ngongo-Bole road on the banks of the River Meme on the night of Friday 12 January breaking Saturday while he was attending the wake keep of his colleague, late chief Mekumba Manfred of Kwa-Kwa.