NW Governor dismisses petitions against Boyo administration, threatens villagers with terrorism laws

Adolphe Lele L’Afrique, Governor of the North West region 

By Eric Meleh, Cameroon Journal, Bamenda – Adolphe Lele L’Afrique, Governor of the North West region has described as baseless petitions filed by some individuals against administrative authorities in Boyo over the partitioning of grazing land in Bum subdivision.

He made the observation while on a three day socio-economic tour of Boyo which rounded off Feb. 27.  The Governor said he has received petitions in his office from people protesting the decision of the SDO for Boyo and D.O for Bum for partitioning the grazing land. The SDO and D.O, it should be noted, had partitioned the grazing land into four zones in the subdivision owing to conflicts between the Aku and Mbororo communities. However, the petitioners are accusing them of conniving with the Aku population against the Mbororos.

The Aku community has said they’re being maltreatment by their Mbororo counterpart despite the fact that they (Akus) outnumber the Mbororos in terms of population and number of cattle reared.

They had requested that the administration creates their own adorate. This request met with stiff resistance from the Mbororos who wanted their dominance over the Akus to continue.



Oum Joseph II, Boyo SDO who held two crisis meetings in his office last year with representatives of the two parties and other stakeholders concerned with land issues opted first to partition the grazing land while the creation of an adorate for the Akus remain under study. The move was meant to usher in immediate peace, following the tension that was already rising between the two communities especially in Konene.

To Lele L’Afrique, the petitions filed to his office are contrary to what is on the field. He called on those concern to cease from writing such petitions, stating clearly that grazing land belongs to the state and not to individuals.

The governor who inspected rehabilitation works on the 28km Fundong-Konene road later addressed the population of Konene, warning against the high rate of crime and acts of vandalism in the locality. He said he has been informed that some people in Konene were in possession of guns which they use to threaten public peace. He said that his administration will not give a blind eye to such acts.

“If you want us to start implementing the anti-terrorism law here, then we shall do it. Let me inform you of the existence of the newly created regional military court in Bamenda. Cameroon is a state of law and no one is above the law” said L’Afrique.

A similar message was taken to Fonfuka where he reiterated that no one who threatens public peace will go free. He noted with dismay the actions of some individuals who came out with guns when the SDOs for Boyo and Donga Mantung went visiting the disputed piece of land between Kichako and Nkanchi villages – land which was allocated for the construction of two classrooms for GS Kichako. Traditional rulers and politicians were told to educate the population to stay off conflicts and give peace a chance.