Blog

Three Government Forces Feared Dead

After a fierce battle on February 1 2022 between Government forces and Ambazonia fighters which led to the Ambazonia Forces taking over the Kumbo Water Tank, at least three Government forces are feared dead. An eye witness accounts that the military withdraw from the area that same day.

Bamenda-Mbengwi Road on Another Restriction

Due to an attack carried out by the military on separatist fighters around one of their checkpoints, they have again restricted circulation on the Bamenda-Mbengwi road late Tuesday February 1 2022. One separatists fighter is reported to have been killed in the incident.

Infighting: Ten Seperatist Fighters Loss Their Lives

General Mad Dog of Unity Warriors on Wednesday February 3rd, launched an attack on the Bui Warriors killing ten of them and taking over the Isobu camp for allegedly collecting money from Market people in thr name of sponsoring activities of the struggle. According to General Mad Dog, dozens of civilians have been killed by the Isobu camp while causing thousands to escape Bui because of its attrocities.

Military Allegedly Kills Popular Businessman in Ndop

It is alleged that the Military has brought to an end the life of  a popular businessman in Bamali Ndop, Ngokentunjia division of the North West Region. Local sources in Bamali reveal that, soldiers opened fire on the businessman called Felix Sunday. He was said to be returning from the market when the incident occured on  Sunday February 6.

Military Opens Fire at Funeral, Kills Two

A group of soldiers are said to have opened fire at a funeral in Balikumbat killing two people and leaving the mourners confused. It is alleged that one of the persons who died was a separatist fighter. The unfortunate killing occurred on February 6, same day the Military was accused of killing two persons at a funeral.

Millitary Kills Three Robbers in Bamenda ,  One Escapes

The incident took place  around mile 6 on February 12 2022, after the robbers four in number had attacked the Bocom fueling station, lutted the shop, emptying their coffers after making away with some valuables from some young men who were relaxing at the spot. They were spotted in late Barrister Kemende's car and three were  shot dead at the spot meanwhil one escaped.

Gunshots leave four death, a corps lying at City Chemist Roundabout

Reports have it that the patchy  gunpour on the night of February 15 in Bamenda around  Allabukam Mbengwi Road brought down four notorious thieves.  In the morning of February 16, a corpse was found lying at City Chemist Roundabout.

Gunmen waste the Life of Young Business Man at Sisia Quarters

A young business man popularly called Machine has lost his life at the Sisia neighbourhood in Bamenda as a result of gunshots fired by suspected Seperatist Fighters. It is said that Alain was heading home on his bike with another friend on the night of February 19 when he met with his demise.  The other friend was injured and before they could rush Alain to the hospital, he died.

A Hotel Proprietor shot dead in Bamenda

The incident which led to the death of two persons happened on February 22 when a soldier on duty at Ayaba hotel following a small argument opened fire and shot at Ibrahim Yinju and his friend Che Henry while they were drinking at the spot. The two died on the spot while two others in their company narrowly escaped. Ibrahim Yinju is said to be the proprietor of Mawa Hotel, mile Six Nkwen in Bamenda.

CBC Health Worker Killed after Community Outreach

Madam Shey Janet, a long serving health woker in charge of Women's Health programme met with her demise on February 26 around mile 90 Nsongwa road. Reports have it that the team of medical personnel were returning from a two day Community Health Care delivery when their vehicle was shot at by suspected Seperatist Fighters. Madam Janet lost her life in the process while a Dr. was injured and rushed to the hospital.

Woman loses her life in Millitary/Amba shootout

On Wednesday January 5 2022, the lifeless body of a Woman called Ma Rose was found around a farm in the Wumfi neighbourhood, Mbengwi momo Division of the North West Region after an exchange between the Military and the non state armed group. It is said that this woman left her house on Tuesday evening to look for Okro in her Farm when the shooting began and did not return until when the family conducted a search and found her lying dead in the said farm.

Man breaths his last after trying to Kill another with his wife

An angry mob in Wum has brought the life of a Muslim guy to an end after he tried to kill another man and his wife. It is alleged that he was sent by another prominent Muslim to commit the act in which he met with his doom.

North West Region Loses another Legal Mind

On January 11 2022, the people of Bamenda woke up to the shock of the passing away of Baristar kemende who doubles as the senator for Ngohkitunjia. He was shot and thrown somewhere around Nkwen in Bamenda. He died after being rushed to the PMI hospital.

Gun  Men Kill Man and Kidnappes a Woman in Nkwen

A popularly man in Bamenda known as Pa German Trench was  shot and killed at his German Trench resident in Mile 3 Nkwen, Northwest region of Cameroon.  The unfortunate incident occurred on Wednesday, January 11, 2022 as he tried to plead with the group of  gun men not to  kidnap a lady. They shot him dead before taking the lady with them.

Fon of Buchi in Pinyin Murdered

The dead body of the fon of Buchi in pinyin village of the North West Region has been found at a junction not far from the palace this January 12 2022. Reports have it that he was shot the night before at about 11.45 pm by some gun men.

Two Men succumb to death in Buea shootout

Ambazonia fighters on January 12, stormed the Buea Central Market and began shooting which resulted in the dead of two people, a Taxi driver named Ngoh Wilfred and a farmer whose name we didn’t get at news time.  They were heavily armed guys who paraded the areas around Koke, Bokwai, Molyko, Muea, and other outskirts of Buea, shooting indiscriminately.

Suspected Ambazonia Fighters Physically Abuse Students in Buea

Reports have it that during the shooting of January 12 in Buea, the Non State Armed Group gathered some students of GHS Bokova and stripped them naked. In a dehumanizing video which circulated on social media, the guys claimed these children committed a crime by going to school. The incident happened behind a community hall and Baptist church of Bwitingi.

Five CDC Workers Abducted

Men believed to be Separatist Fighters have abducted Five workers of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC). They were carried during work on a field in Tiko, a town in the conflict-plagued South West Region. The CDC is Cameroon’s second highest employer after government and this is not the first time its workers are been kidnapped and property destroyed. It has almost been brought to its knees by the five-year-long armed conflict.

General King of the Forest Joins Ancestors

A commander of the Separatist Fighters popularly called General Ebube, King of the Forest alongside two people have been killed. Government forces surrounded his room in Nseh, Nkum subdivision in the North West region, fired and killed him. Two others were arrested.

Ambazonia forces attack Millitary Covoy killing One

An IED attack between Buea and Muyuka Sub Division has left at least one Government commander dead and several others injured. This happened when a military convoy escorting workers from a company producing sweet drinks was attacked by Ambazonia forces around Mile 29 Ekona. Heavy gunshots followed the attack and two vehicles were set ablaze.

 At least three die over woman in Benakuma

A brutal fight over a lady in Benakuma, Menchum Valley in the North West Region of Cameroon has caused the loss of lives of two soldiers serving in Cameroon’s army. The violent occurrence happened on Saturday, January 22, in Benakuma, where they had been deployed. Reports have it that one of the soldiers, Assomo is said to have found out his girlfriend was having a relationship with his colleague Enraged, the young soldier is said to have been tortured before been shot on the buttocks.

Woman loses her life in Millitary/Amba shootout

On Wednesday January 5 2022, the lifeless body of a Woman called Ma Rose was found around a farm in the Wumfi neighbourhood, Mbengwi momo Division of the North West Region after an exchange between the Military and the non state armed group. It is said that this woman left her house on Tuesday evening to look for Okro in her Farm when the shooting began and did not return until when the family conducted a search and found her lying dead in the said farm.

Man breaths his last after trying to Kill another with his wife

An angry mob in Wum has brought the life of a Muslim guy to an end after he tried to kill another man and his wife. It is alleged that he was sent by another prominent Muslim to commit the act in which he met with his doom.

North West Region Loses another Legal Mind

On January 11 2022, the people of Bamenda woke up to the shock of the passing away of Baristar kemende who doubles as the senator for Ngohkitunjia. He was shot and thrown somewhere around Nkwen in Bamenda. He died after being rushed to the PMI hospital.

Gun  Men Kill Man and Kidnappes a Woman in Nkwen

A popularly man in Bamenda known as Pa German Trench was  shot and killed at his German Trench resident in Mile 3 Nkwen, Northwest region of Cameroon.  The unfortunate incident occurred on Wednesday, January 11, 2022 as he tried to plead with the group of  gun men not to  kidnap a lady. They shot him dead before taking the lady with them.

Fon of Buchi in Pinyin Murdered

The dead body of the fon of Buchi in pinyin village of the North West Region has been found at a junction not far from the palace this January 12 2022. Reports have it that he was shot the night before at about 11.45 pm by some gun men.

Two Men succumb to death in Buea shootout

Ambazonia fighters on January 12, stormed the Buea Central Market and began shooting which resulted in the dead of two people, a Taxi driver named Ngoh Wilfred and a farmer whose name we didn’t get at news time.  They were heavily armed guys who paraded the areas around Koke, Bokwai, Molyko, Muea, and other outskirts of Buea, shooting indiscriminately.

Suspected Ambazonia Fighters Physically Abuse Students in Buea

Reports have it that during the shooting of January 12 in Buea, the Non State Armed Group gathered some students of GHS Bokova and stripped them naked. In a dehumanizing video which circulated on social media, the guys claimed these children committed a crime by going to school. The incident happened behind a community hall and Baptist church of Bwitingi.

Five CDC Workers Abducted

Men believed to be Separatist Fighters have abducted Five workers of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC). They were carried during work on a field in Tiko, a town in the conflict-plagued South West Region. The CDC is Cameroon’s second highest employer after government and this is not the first time its workers are been kidnapped and property destroyed. It has almost been brought to its knees by the five-year-long armed conflict.

General King of the Forest Joins Ancestors

A commander of the Separatist Fighters popularly called General Ebube, King of the Forest alongside two people have been killed. Government forces surrounded his room in Nseh, Nkum subdivision in the North West region, fired and killed him. Two others were arrested.

Ambazonia forces attack Millitary Covoy killing One

An IED attack between Buea and Muyuka Sub Division has left at least one Government commander dead and several others injured. This happened when a military convoy escorting workers from a company producing sweet drinks was attacked by Ambazonia forces around Mile 29 Ekona. Heavy gunshots followed the attack and two vehicles were set ablaze.

 At least three die over woman in Benakuma

A brutal fight over a lady in Benakuma, Menchum Valley in the North West Region of Cameroon has caused the loss of lives of two soldiers serving in Cameroon’s army. The violent occurrence happened on Saturday, January 22, in Benakuma, where they had been deployed. Reports have it that one of the soldiers, Assomo is said to have found out his girlfriend was having a relationship with his colleague Enraged, the young soldier is said to have been tortured before been shot on the buttocks.

BIHAPH in 2021 has touched the lives of thousands through her numerous life Transforming activities, online and on site campaigns that brought peace and hope to the hopeless as well as empowered many with sustainable initiatives within the North West Region and beyond.  Part of the activities that BIHAPH carried out in 2021, was to join the International Community in commemorating international days such as the international women's day, international day of peace, the day of the African Child, international day of the rural woman just to name a few.

UNHCR/BIHAPH PROJECT ON STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RESPONSE AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN WUM CENTRAL, BAFMEN AND BENAKUMA IN MENCHUM DIVISION

Bihndumlem Humanitarian Association of Peace and Hope (BIHAPH) is presently implementing a project on the theme; Strengthening Community Response Against Gender Based Violence and Prevention of Sexual Abuse in some communities in Menchum Division, Wum Central, Bafmeng and Benakuma respectively. The six months’ project which began on the 1^st of June, will end on November 30^th, 2021.  The giant project sponsored by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has come to save the lives of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees and the host communities from the misfortunes of war. According to the CEO Madame Bibiana, “the Anglophone crisis has brought untold agony to the people of the North West and South West regions. It has also increased gender based violence(GBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse(SEA), since rape is seen as a weapon of war. Our women and men especially the girls are victims of this pain. So, amid the challenges of war UNHCR in partnership with BIHAPH is implementing this project so as to save the lives of the suffering population in the three communities. We, may not be able to change the lives of everybody, but if we save the life of one person, we will be satisfied”.

 TRAININGS CARRIED OUT IN THE THREE COMMUNITIES

The project began effectively in July after the training of the stakeholders in the three communities. In June, in all three communities, the ground work was laid by the staff and the community mobilizers. But the project went into full swing during the training of the stakeholders in all three communities. The facilitators, including the G.C of CAWOPEM madam Carine Ndasah drilled the participants on;

• An introduction to gender based violence, contextualizing the concept
• Shifting cultural norms to address gender based violence
• Legal framework on GBV, causes, forms, consequences and prevention
• The psychological effects of GBV in vulnerable communities.
• The impact of GBV on children: The community's role to fight against GBV involving boys and girls.
• Gender based violence using communication approaches to alleviate the vice.
• Economic empowerment as a strategy to fight GBV and PSEA

The impact of this training was seen immediately during one of the sessions as Chief Pascal the Sub chief of Benahundu confessed, “this training has changed my mindset, from what I have learnt here today, I promise never to beat my wife again. I have made up my mind to educate all my children both boys and girls. I won’t treat the girls as properties any longer”, two months later he is still practicing what he confessed and calling for more trainings in his community.

The training of Journalist, Local Broadcasters, Opinion Leaders and Town Criers.

After, the training of the stakeholders came the training for communicators. This is due to the fact that over the years it has been discovered that communicators have unwittly increased the pain of survivors, and during humanitarian crisis, ‘people need the right information like they need water’. UNHCR and her partner deemed it necessary to train this group of persons on the ethics of reporting GBV cases. The facilitator Ms. Nfor Brenda Baki made the training as interactive as possible, so as to get her message across to the participants.

Furthermore, members of Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Alert Team and Cultural Groups were also trained. According to the M&E “the project cannot be successful if CBOs are not trained on what the cankerworm is and how it can be alleviated by the community”. The training had as objectives to drill the participants on; the rights of survivors, effective methods of communicating GBV issues and the role of humanitarian workers in fighting GBV. It is important to note that the absence of the above mentioned in our Community Based Organizations has made it difficult for the vice to be alleviated, so training the participants on these issues was of great necessity.

SENSITIZATIONS

For awareness raising and community education, there have been continues sensitization campaigns throughout the three communities. The staff and community mobilizers have left no stone unturned, they have carried out sensitization campaigns: at the markets, motor parks, in churches, mosques, social groups, religious groups, cultural groups, villages and palaces. Drilling the people on the legal consequences of GBV, psychological effects of GBV on the survivors. And also teaching them on the need to communicate effectively at home, at their meeting places, churches and market places about some of these acts that are detrimental to the wellbeing of the community and their families.

The media has also served as a great tool of sensitization and community education. The people are educated weekly on what the law says about GBV, the psychosocial effects and ways of effective communication. The radio spots are being transmitted in three languages; English, Aghem the native language of the Wum people and Fulfulde for the Mbororo community, making everyone in the community a part of the project. Despite the sensitizations, the people want more; “thank you so much for coming to Aghem Teachers Association (ATA) to sensitize the teachers, but I wish to plead with you, to come to my school and educate the pupils on the effects of forced and early marriages, a form of GBV that is prevalent in my community”, a Head Teacher of a primary in one of the villages pleads with the team.

SERVICES OFFERED BY THE PROJECT

100 survivors are being economically empowered in; hair dressing, dress marking and tailoring.  An activity that has been seen by survivors as silver lining in a dark cloud, “I thank Allah for this project. Thank you UNHCR and BIHAPH for this life changing opportunity”, a trainee said. The services of the legal adviser and the psychosocial counsellor, are also at the disposal of the people especially the IDPs in all three communities.