Court rescues Fon Chafah from banishment as tension mount from villagers

There was drama in Nghoketunjia Division of the North West Region recently, as fuming Bangolan villagers stormed the Ndop High Court, spoiling to banish their traditional ruler, Fon Chafah Isaac XI for militarising the village again.

 The Fon was earlier this year, accused of mass arrest, torture and imprisonment of his own subjects, following the escalation of the Bangolan chieftaincy crisis.

When the matter was brought before the Ndop High Court, some irate villagers trekked from Bangolan to Ndop, but the tense atmosphere forced the presiding Magistrate of the case, Justice Neba Wilson, to adjourn the matter to June 28, 2017.

Bangolan has been passing through a torrid time following spades of bloody confrontations that have left some villagers dead.

Fon Chafah’s subject recently stormed the palace threatening to banish him from the village for disrespecting the tradition of the land, but they met heavily armed militia who were drafted in by the Fon to protect him.

A scuffle had ensued between the heavily armed troops and the restive villagers in which some 48 villagers were arrested and some soldiers were wounded in the wake of the skirmish.

The Bangolan chieftaincy crisis started in February 2016 when supporters of Fon Chafah’s brother invaded the palace demanding the departure of Fon Chafah. This led to the death of many villagers including Chafah’s brother who died in Foumban, West Region, days after he was released from detention.