Society

A DANGEROUS driver who attacked an on duty policewoman for more than 15 minutes before driving off and throwing her to the ground just inches from cars on the M3 has been jailed. Innocent Fowung launched a “prolonged and sustained” attack on PC Vikki Sharpe during which she fought desperately to stop him dragging them both into the carriageway of the M3 near Basingstoke where they could have been killed. Despite managing to handcuff him to his steering wheel and leaning into the car in a bid to stop him driving away, Fowung was able to reverse into her police car, which violently threw the officer against the car and onto the ground seriously injured. Winchester Crown Court heard how PC Sharpe, from the Roads Policing Team, pulled over the 47-year-old after she spotted him driving erratically along the M3, near Basingstoke.

She breathalysed him and when he failed that test she went on to arrest him but it was at this point that he became aggressive. She said: “I remember feeling very vulnerable straight away, the strength that he gripped my arm with when he first placed hands on me made it quite clear of his intentions.” She was then forced to struggle with Fowung at the side of the motorway for more than 15 minutes, managing to cuff one of his hands. Despite taking his keys, during the fight he manage to get them back and go back to his car in a bid to make his escape. 

PC Sharpe leaned into the car to try and get back the keys and managed to put the other cuff on his steering wheel, but he suddenly reversed into her parked car behind, flinging her against his car and onto the ground. Fortunately he was soon stopped by her colleagues further along the motorway. PC Sharpe suffered numerous injuries including a broken hand, damaged ribs, back and shoulder pain, which left her off work for three months. During the sentencing PC Vikki Sharpe told the court how the attack on June 15, last year, has affected her. She said: “I still suffer from back and shoulder pain which is helped with pain relief, my hand has not mended to a level that it was prior to the incident. My index finger is deformed, I am unable to grip and use the finger for simple tasks, such as undoing a jar or gripping a handle. “I have seriously considered resigning from my job, something that I never thought I would do. It has made me doubt myself, my abilities and why I am a police officer.” Fowung, from Coventry, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the assault and a further 10 months in prison to run consecutively for dangerous driving.

He was also given a three year driving ban. After the sentencing John Apter, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, said: “PC Sharpe displayed courage, tenacity and commitment to duty in what was a prolonged and cowardly attack by Mr Fowung. “Police officers perform a difficult and dangerous job, I hope the prison sentence handed down acts as a reminder that it is never acceptable for an officer to be assaulted.”

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Ngwa Bertrand

10.Oct.2015

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Just 87 of the hitherto 2,500 to 3,000 candidates per session, sat the examination on Saturday, May 23, 2015.

As early as 7am on Saturday May 23, 2015, at Lycée d’Akwa, the lone examination centre in Douala, over 100 furious-looking people dressed in black and belonging to the Association of Douala Driving Schools carried out a sit-in strike, brandishing placards with their grievances. The examination centre that used to contain over 2,500 candidates for each session, saw just 87 candidates.

According to Littoral Regional Delegate for Transport, Pamela Ayuketah, they came from six of the 167 driving schools in Douala. She explained that though just 85 candidates sat the examination, it went on hitch-free. “The law says the examination can hold with at least 40 candidates,” the Delegate explained. Contradicting the Regional Delegate, the President of the National Union of Driving School Promoters and Managers of Cameroon, Thomas Jima, said all driving schools were on strike and that of the 185 candidates that registered and the 87 that sat the examination, the names of the driving schools they belonged to were not written against their names.

He enumerated their grievances to include irregularities noticed in issuing driving licenses. The union alleges that some transport officials connive to register and issue licenses to candidates who never studied in any driving school and for receiving money from driving schools during examinations. The unionists are also demanding receipts upon paying in money during the submission of files, the closure of the Nkongsamba, Edea and Yabassi sub centres, pointing out that more than 60 per cent of candidates do not study in driving schools.

The union warned that it would only end the strike action if the Transport Minister heeds their demands, including the use of audiovisuals during examinations. “Malpractices have led to the downgrading of Cameroon since some countries, especially in Europe, no longer recognise Cameroon driving licenses,” Thomas Jima alleged.

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Ngwa Bertrand

26.May.2015

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The government/Islamic Development Bank project is intended to enhance cattle, sheep and poultry production. Conceived to transform the vast livestock and fisheries potentials of the North West Region, into wealth, the FCFA 29 billion LIFIDEP project is set to move from policy and strategies into results. In effect, the North West Livestock and Fisheries Development Project (LIFIDEP) has scheduled to step up activities in June 2015.  Protocol agreements ahead of capacity building sessions   to empower stakeholders feature prominently on the technical field activities of the project up to June 2015.  It has emerged from LIFIDEP’s first quarter Coordination Meeting that most infrastructure and equipment to take the project forward are in the process of procurement.

First quarter activities covering January to March 2015 shortlisted producers of day old chicks to supply the birds for imminent distribution to potential poultry farmers in the region. It is also on record that small ruminant multiplication breeders have also been identified to supply sheep and goats for the project to serve small ruminant breeders.

Centres for artificial insemination of cattle have also been selected and finalised and grazers around the artificial insemination points have been organised ahead of imminent trainings in beef and milk production and productivity. Work plan field activities indicate that LIFIDEP is about to formalise relations with implementation partners among who are IRAD, the North West  Livestock Development Authority (CDENO), the Regional Delegation of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries as well as consultants.

The crucial role of implementation partners was echoed at a recent LIFIDEP workshop during which the executing agency, MIDENO challenged the project to turn full circle and deliver for the development of beneficiaries before the project’s six-year lifespan expires in 2018. Speaking for the General Manager of the North West Development Authority, (MIDENO), the Technical Director, Ndeh Emmanuel stressed the need to respect timeframes for implementation plans. The workshop in the neighbourhood of Bambili featured first quarter activity reports, the Draft LIFIDEP M & E Plan and the activity plan for the period April – June 2015. Around to ensure supervision was the Project Coordinator, Mbipeh Pius Sidiki.

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Ngwa Bertrand

25.May.2015

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The Illegal sale and distribution of fuel has caused two fire disasters within a three day period in Douala resulting to the death of one and considerable material damage.

The more serious of the two incidents occurred in the Carrefour Agip on Saturday 23rd May 2015.

According to reports Delphine Nguengou was trapped in the fire while attempting to save her two grandchildren who rushed out of the blaze unnoticed.

The incident, according to eye witness reports, must have been caused by fuel that was stocked in the house.

Due to the muscular intervention of fire-fighting brigade, the fire was contained but not before clearing three buildings and causing the tragic death of 62year old Delphine Nguengou.

At the end of the operation, the fire fighters discovered several containers of fuel kept in the house.

This indicated that the practice of stocking highly flammable mineral like fuel at home is what accounts for most of the serious fire disasters in Douala.

The incident at the Carrefour Agip can be explained by the existence of a petroleum depot in the vicinity.

Competent authorities are calling for security to be reinforced so the act of stealing and stocking the flammable mineral can be checked

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Ngwa Bertrand

25.May.2015

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The accident occurred at about 4 am when the truck transporting fuel from Limbe to Bafoussam left its track and collided with the bus heading to Bamenda from Yaounde.The impact of the crash was great. The driver of the bus and the passenger seated directly behind him died on the spot when the front of the bus was completely scrapped.

Twenty passengers on the bus were injured in varying degrees and rushed to the Bafoussam Regional Hospital; four are in critical conditions. The truck driver survived the accident since his vehicle was not badly smashed. Police reports say excess speed accounted for the unfortunate situation.

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Ngwa Bertrand

25.May.2015

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The peace loving population of Donga Mantung and environs of the North West Region of Cameroon are currently under threat due to some strange happenings being perpetuated by some men of the underworld. Two suspected individuals alleged to be dealers in human parts were arrested in Donga Mantung division. The two whose names this reporter got as, Tanko and Nyamsah Isa, were all arrested in the Sabongari neighbourhood of Nkambe. Security report gathered in Nkambe revealed that, the two men were arrested in possession of human skulls and brains and were immediately transferred to the Nkambe Central Prison where they are currently helping the police with further investigations. On how the two were caught, security report from the Nkambe Judicial Police further revealed that one of the culprits, Usmanu Sule who claimed to be a relation to one Alhadji Musa had contacted him and proposed him to buy the human parts they had. Alarmed by that kind of business his alleged relation proposed to him, he alerted his neighbours and the police for help. Usmanu Sule and his colleague, Tanko went back to Alhadji’s home to take him to their supplier’s site (Nyamsay Isa and Fortipme Salifou) where they were immediately nabbed. The police reportedly tricked the two middlemen to invite the suppliers by phone to meet at a place called Tere Rouge under the ploy that Alhadji cannot cross the river.

Meanwhile in Njap village still in the Nkambe Central of the Donga Mantung Division, a traditional ruler has been shot dead.Some reports say a certain Shagari,widely believed to be the architect of the act was caught by the population of Njap village the next day in possession of a gun he used in killing the Sub-Chief of Njap. Cameroon Concord learnt that his arrest led to three other suspects now in police drag net. As crime wave is persistently on an increase in the Donga Mantung Division, the elite of this division have vow not to compromise with anybody in the name of a criminal. During a recent fundraising by elite of this Division in their respective sub-divisions to support the Head of State and the army in the fight against  Boko Haram, firm comments  were made to put an end to crime in the entire constituency. The administration, headed by the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung, Ndode Messappe Bernard has strategized to track down any suspected individuals. While it is also reported that at the level of the village communities, vigilante groups have be created to identity suspects.

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Ngwa Bertrand

24.May.2015

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