Cameroon: Daring Atanga Nji Inaugurates DO’s Office, Provides Separatist Surrendering Tactics

Dare-daring Territorial Administration Minister, Paul Atanga Nji has outline some practical guidelines which he says will assist separatist fighters in the bushes who are expressing the desire to heed to President Paul Biya’s call to surrender.

MINAT boss in Bafut, NWR

The courageous interior minister issued the guidelines in Bafut, near Bamenda in Mezam Division, a locality that has been a stronghold of Amba fighters since the escalation of the crisis.

The practical guidelines from the MINAT follows increase calls from separatist in the bushes expressing fear and confusion on how to go about leaving to the bushes without being killed.

“If you are afraid to go and meet the local administrative authorities… go and meet the DO, SDO, Brigade Commander, Commissioner, or the Governor. Go and meet your traditional ruler in your village, the pastor, priest, Bishop. They are all over in the two Anglophone regions and they will help you to work out your way,” he directed, adding that the fighters could as well hold a white handkerchief on their left hand and a peace plant on the right while coming out to surrender.

“…that is a sign that you have surrendered. There is no military person who will see an ex-combatant with his hands up, indicating that he has surrendered and go after you,” he assured, adding that the soldiers will rather welcome them and take them to the nearest administrative authority for registration.

He used the visit to the dreaded Amba stronghold to inaugurate the newly constructed office of the Divisional Officer for Bafut that was burnt in 2018 by armed separatists.

The office was constructed by the elements of Cameroon’s elite force, the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR. The structure has watchtowers that could permit security officials identify people as far as a kilometer away from the building. 

Atanga Nji Paul congratulated the professionalism of the military, commending their collaboration with civilians to ensure the security of people and their property.

He called on religious and traditional authorities to continue to help government in the ongoing efforts to see the separatist leave the bushes and regain normal live without any trial of punishment from the state.

By Doh Bertrand Nua