Wildlife Trafficker Arrest

Leopard Skins trafficker arrested with samples

A wildlife trafficker was arrested for illegal possession of  a leopard skin and 41kg of pangolin scales which he brought from Douala to Yaounde to sell. As he alighted from the bus late in the night of June 8, 2017,, he was immediately arrested by the police who were waiting from him. .

                The operation was carried out by the Centre Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in close collaboration with police officers from the 10th Police District in Yaounde and with technical assistance from The Last Great Organisation - LAGA. The operation involved tracking wildlife traffickers through  social network  and this quickly proved successful as a partner of his was found  advertising  several wildlife species including leopard skins and pangolin scales. He would  travelled from his base in Douala to Yaounde where he intended to meet a client for business and was arrested.. .

                Wildlife traffickers are taking advantage of the new communication world, increasingly; they are using the Facebook, WhatsApp and other communication tools to adverstise, contact and conduct business with clients all over the world. The opportunities are wide and varied with scammers, wildlife traffickers and other kinds of criminals making the most of these open communication channels. .

Fruitful Yaounde-Washington relations:

Populations of Lower Bokoko can nor drink pure water

 Lower Bokoko Water Project inaugurated

Inhabitants of lower Bokoko in Buea subdivision and its environs can now boast of free potable water. These follows the inauguration of the self-help funded community water project at Quarter 4, Lower Bokoko which took place Wednesday 7 June 2017 at the Government School Bokoko field.

                The project which lasted 4 months is a fruit of Cameroon-USA relations as 60% of the funding came from the US embassy in Yaounde and 40% from the Lower Bokoko Development Committe, LOBODEV, costing more than eight million FCFA.

                During the inauguration ceremony chaired by JullietteMarshamMacclure, development coordinator at the US Embassy, she called on the inhabitants of Lower Bokoko to continue to work as a team to ensure the sustainability of the constructed taps and tanks for their benefit for years to come. She noted that the US Embassy in Cameroon has funded 131 projects 18 of which are in the SWR.

                On his part, the chairman of LOBODEV and projects, Martin Nkemngu reported that appeals made to senators and parliamentarians of the Buea constituency to support the project yielded no fruit.

                "The representatives of the people should not forget that they will always need us in good and bad times," Nkemngu said.

                He warned beneficiary populations from doing laundry or washing of dishes, cars etc around the four taps, saying  defaulters will pay a fine of two thousand franc CFA

                Meanwhile, the DO for Buea, KouamWokam Paul said "the population of lower Bokoko should consider themselves lucky to have the rare opportunity of being provided water". He went further to hand the sum of 5O thousand FCFA to the chairman of the project as his own personal contribution to help sustain the population to take care of the water pumps.

Two Ivory tusks seized and man arrested

Man arrested with Ivory tusks

A team comprising wildlife and police officers arrested a suspected trafficker who was traveling in a dark blue car with two carved ivory tusks. The man was arrested after the car was stopped and searched, at an entrance to the Bastosneighourhood in Yaounde.

                The operation that was carried out by the Centre Regional Delegation for Forestry and Wildlife in collaboration with the police was technically assisted by The Last Great Ape Organistion (LAGA) and is part of government’s initiative to track and prosecute wildlife traffickers.,

                According to preliminary investigations that was revealed by a source close to the case, the man  leftKribi early Monday  May 22 to Yaounde. When he arrived the motor park at the Mvanneighbourhood, he boarded another car and made for the north of the town  but because he had been under  investigations for a while,  he was quietly tracked and arrested as he climbed a short drive into the Bastosneighbourhood.

                When police stopped the car, the alarmed man fidgeted and pushed the bag he was carrying in between his legs. He was asked to pull open the bag and two ivory tusks were recovered among underwear which he had used to wrap the ivory, with the intention to repel anyone who was keen on seeing what was bulging from the bundle. Traffickers are used to various concealment techniques and many say this is the first time they are uncovering the use of underwear to hide ivory.

                The same unnamed sources said the 37-year old Kribi resident intended to travel to Meiganga for to get more wildlife products but needed to conduct business here in Yaounde so that he could have sufficient money for the trip to Meiganga – a town which seems to be turning out into a trafficking hub in the Adamawa region. An operation was carried out there in April and  three people were arrested for lion and leopard skin trafficking.

Decrying poor contracts execution:

SW is not dumping pit for fake contractors

 – Public Contracts Delegate

By Boris Esono in Buea

A meeting of the committee for the participatory follow-up of the execution of public investment contracts for the South West region recently took place at the boardroom of the Buea Council.

                Chaired by South West Governor, Bernard OkaliaBilai, the third quarter session was aimed at evaluating the level of execution of regional projects and the challenges faced in the execution process.

                According to the South West Regional delegate of Public Contracts, Kati Alfred this year’s execution rate stands at 80%. Mr. Kati Alfred also insisted much needs to be done given the low execution of contracts especially in the Fako Division.

                While calling on those in charge with the execution of public contracts to sit up. He added, patriotic actions and the participation of everybody will do the region much good. 

                “There should be renewed confidence on the contractors so that they should not have any fear that if we work together, at least, they (Bankers) can pre-finance works and are sure of getting their money back”.

ANAFOOT officials urged to turn experience to success

ANAFOOT officials

Newly appointed officials of the Cameroon National Football Academy, ANAFOOT, have been told to used their rich, professional and dynamic experience in the sporting arena to attain the objectives of the institution.

                The called was made on June 5 by the Minister of Sport and Physical Education, IsmaëlBidoungMkpatt during the official installation of the members in Yaounde.

                “I urge you to employ your rich and dynamic experience in managing the actives of ANAFOOT. You should through the national football academy continue in the permanent quest for excellence. Your academy will have to train Cameroonians to perfect their performances, always to surpass themselves, to rise and stay at the top in their discipline in order to always carry high the standard of our dear fatherland,” BidoungMkpatt stated.

                Going by the Minister, they must have to act fast given the importance the Head of State, Paul Biya attaches to sports especially football.

                “You must have to act fast by putting in a good organisation that will bring in a lot of benefits to our nation. Your rich experience will help to foster our football,” The Minister added.

                While promising to stand by them, the Minister enjoined them to walk in collaboration with the various stakeholders that will enable them to succeed. To that effect, the Minister announced that the temporal ANAFOOT office will be located at the second floor of the administrative block of the YaoundeOmnisport Stadium.

OyongoBitolo injured as Lions head for Confederations Cup

Cameroon has taken lead over Morocco 1-0 as the two teams play their first day qualifier match for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations though with OyonoBitolo injured and taken to hospital.

                Hugo Broos later confirmed that OyonoBitolo is out of the confederations Cup as he would be absent from the field of play for about seven months.

                Morocco tried to imposed its rhythm in the game but Cameroon showed more superiority as Aboubakar Vincent displaced Moroccan defender to give Cameroon the lead at the 29th minute, about ten minutes after Bitolo was stretched out of the field to an ambulance for hospital.

AurelienChedjou joins Istanbul Basaksehir

AurelinChedjou has signed a three-year deal with Istanbul Basaksehir

Istanbul Basaksehir have announced the signing of Cameroon defender AurelienChedjou on a three-year deal.

                The 31-year-old Indomitable Lion has opted to join the 2016/17 Turkish top flight runners-up after reaching the end of his contract with city rivals Galatasaray.

                Chedjou, who has 50 international appearances for Cameroon and played at the 2010 and 2014 Fifa World Cups, moved to Turkey in 2013 from French club Lille.

                The centre-back made 119 appearances and scored 12 goals for Galatasaray during a four-year stint that saw him win the league title in 2015.