- - Convoy forced to retreat to Kumba from Big Ekombe
- - South West Governor travels
by sea to install new Ndian SDO
BY ATIA TILARIOUS AZOHNWI
Gunmen believed to be loyal to the
Ambazonia Defence Forces attacked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant
General Rene Claude Meka Thursday, April 12, 2018. The convoy of the defense
chief was driving along the Kumba–Ekondo-Titi road.
According to reliable sources, the convoy
left Kumba and made a technical stopover at a military camp at Small Ekombe.
There, all non-military officials who were part of the convoy were kept for
safety.
The army chief of staff and his état major then
proceeded on a mission to evaluate the security situation along the
Kumba-Mundemba road. They were said to be heading towards Big Ekombe in Mbonge
Subdivision when a heavy gunfire greeted the convoy.
There was a heated exchange of gunfire
between the military and the armed group. The military is said to have made
huge gains, with only one soldier sustaining an injury.
Contrary to social media propaganda, our
source said the military overpowered the gunmen, before retreating to Kumba. It
is believed that the intruders recorded heavy casualties from the gun battle.
The turn of events were so rapid that the
Army Chief of Staff’s convoy retreated without stopping over at the Small
Ekombe camp to pick up members of the delegation that had been left there.
The daylight attack unfolded between 1pm
and 2pm that fateful Thursday.
The Army Chief of Staff was in the South
West Region to assess for himself the security situation in the region. It was a kind of control mission of the
activities of the defense forces and a forum for him to hand down further
directives.
After witnessing the challenge the defence
forces are surmounting on a daily basis in the region, General Meka gave firm
instructions to the troops on the line of battle.
The message from the Army Chief of Staff
was for the population to return to their communities and also for them to
collaborate with the defence forces. He saluted the bravery of the military
before leaving the South West.
Locals say the “Amba boys” have made
commuting along the Kumba-Mundemba corridor “a journey to hell”.
SW
Governor travels by sea to install new Ndian SDO
Thursday’s heavy gunfire forced South West
Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai to travel by sea to Mundemba on Friday where he installed
the new Senior Divisional Officer for Ndian Division.
The governor was initially supposed to
travel by road on Thursday ahead of Friday’s installation; but the security
situation forced him to travel by sea instead.
Governor Okalia Bilai left Idenau for
Mundemba early Friday morning. He got to Mundemba in time to installed Nwafua Lawrence Forwang as Ndian SDO. Nwafua was formerly
serving as Secretary General at the South West Governor’s Office.
The governor in his
installation address called on the population to continue to collaborate with
the administration and the forces of law and order to maintain peace and
security. He also enjoined them to conquer fear and send their children to
school.
First published in The SUN Newspaper no. 0486 of Monday, April 16, 2018.
