Society

A fake beer factory has been dismantled in Bafoussam in the western region of Cemeroon. The factory was specialized in the production of fake drinks such as Castel, Heineken and several other consumer beer. They used original packaging for the marketing of its contraband and to make it look genuine. The head of the criminal group, Chi Eric Ndefru aged 65, was  arrested by the Gendarmerie alongside other members of his group.

 

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Ayuk Divine

22.Mar.2023

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The family of Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo, who was killed in January, say they have received threats from officials suspected of involvement in his death. As authorities investigate the murder of the popular radio announcer and journalist, a debate has been sparked between family members who want him buried and others who insist on waiting until results of an investigation are made public.

Zogo’s mutilated remains were found near a bush in Yaounde on January 22, five days after he was abducted by unknown individuals.

His body remains in the Yaounde General Hospital mortuary as the investigation continues. Some of his uncles and brothers want him buried on April 1, but Zogo’s wife and children object.

During a meeting on Wednesday in Yaounde, Zogo’s widow and some of her children said they will not be intimidated by threats and demands.

Attorney Calvin Djob, who represents the family, confirmed that Zogo’s wife and children have been receiving death threats for distancing themselves from plans to bury. He said some family members and friends have received bribes to support burying the journalist before results of the investigation are made public from officials who are being investigated. Djob said Zogo’s spouse has made it clear that her husband will not be buried if results of investigations ordered by Cameroon President Paul Biya into Zogo’s death are not made public.

Djob said a court in Yaounde last week ruled against any burial organized without the consent of Zogo’s widow, but other family members who are insisting that he should be buried have appealed the court's decision.

Zogo’s team said the late journalist's widow and children have been targeted at least three times within the past two months by unidentified individuals.

Zogo’s widow, Diane Zogo, said that in one incident, the occupants of a car following her pulled up alongside her vehicle and opened fire, destroying the windshield. The assailants drove off when witnesses started shouting for help.

“Officials who are being investigated for killing Zogo believe that Zogo’s wife, Diane, is in possession of some information or documents that may incriminate the officials who are being investigated," said Pierre Menye, a relative of Diane Zogo. "[Diane Zogo and her] children need protection, without which they may be silenced by officials who are currently under investigation for killing Zogo.”

Menye said the Cameroonian government has not replied to applications for the police to protect the Zogo family.

Cameroon's police force acknowledges it has received calls from activists to protect the family. The police told state broadcaster CRTV that authorities have a duty to protect all civilians.

Last week, Felix Zogo, secretary general of Cameroon’s communication ministry, denied involvement in any plans to bury Martinez Zogo on April 1. The statement said the organization of the funeral remains in the hands of the late journalist’s family. The two men are not related.

Authorities have so far detained at least 20 people in connection with the killing, including senior police intelligence officers and a well-known media mogul, Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga. A former presidential guard commander was also arrested.

On his radio program, Martinez Zogo accused Belinga and several government ministers of planning to kill him for reporting on their alleged corrupt deals, which he said ruined Cameroon's economy.

The suspects are being detained at the Kondengui maximum security prison in Yaounde.

Cameron's military tribunal in Yaounde, which is leading the investigation, says some senior officials are still being investigated.

Cameroonian laws state that when a crime is committed using weapons and involving military and police, a military tribunal investigates.

Moki Edwin Kindzeka(VOA)

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Ayuk Divine

22.Mar.2023

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Cameroonian singer Dancia  is suing a Brenda Biya (daughter of the president). She alleges in a multimillion-dollar complaint that the defendant and her friend defamed her on the social media in 2021 by accusing her of dealing drugs and being involved in identity theft and fraud.

Singer Dencia, whose real name is Reprudentia Sonkey, brought the Van Nuys Superior Court lawsuit on Wednesday against Anastasie Brenda Biya Eyenga, the daughter of Cameroon President Paul Biya, and a friend of Eyenga, Marie Therese Yabit. The complaint also alleges civil harassment and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

“Defendants’ baseless smears succeeded in backlashing at (Dencia) and destroying her professional career,” the suit states.

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Ayuk Divine

21.Mar.2023

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Cameroonian scholar, Dr Chiabi Emmanuel, was on the night of Wednesday March 15 shot by gunmen in Bamenda, Mezam Division of the North West Region.



Family sources say the revered historian was shot, just as he entered the gate of his residence during the evening hours of the fateful day at New Road in Nkwen, Bamenda III Subdivision.

The Guardian Post gathered that Dr Chiabi had just returned home after he went out in search of cooking gas. The gun shot that left the academic, struggling in a pool of his own blood, drew the attention of his family members and people in the neigbourhood.

He was rushed to a health facility in Nkwen Bamenda, but later gave up the ghost after losing so much blood, we gathered. A video of the scene of the act which surfaced on social media a day after the academic was shot, showed a bullet shell and stains of the blood.

Dr Chia, a Fulbright Scholar had lectured at the University of Yaounde I and later took up residence in the United State of America, USA. The historian was pioneer president of Afo-a-kom USA, a cultural and development association grouping Kom sons and daughters, from Boyo Division in the North West Region, resident in the USA.

The association’s current president, Promise Kimeng Yong, in a condolence message, described the late Dr Chiabi as a ‘baobab that has fallen’. “It is a sad day for Afo-a-kom USA,” PK Yong said.

“While we struggle to swallow this bitter pill of the tragic exit of someone who was literally, ‘the Father of Afo-a-kom USA’, we plead on everyone in our entire Afo-a-kom community, to put his family in their thoughts and prayers,” he added.

Meanwhile, human rights advocate, Barrister Agbor Nkongho, in a message published Friday, condemned the killing, describing it as despicable and unacceptable.

Also, renowned Cameroonian lawyer, Akere Muna tweeted: “Grief stricken this morning by the brutal murder of Prof Chiabi in Bamenda. A fine gentlemen and pristine academic”.

Suggesting that he may have been killed by armed separatists, passing for armed men fighting for a breakaway state in the North West and South West Regions, known as Ambazonia, the 2018 presidential candidate burst out: “I care less about what you are fighting for or even who you claim to be protecting. You do not respect human life? You are nothing but a terrorist”.

The Guardian Post

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The Guardian Post

21.Mar.2023

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At least two people have been killed after torrential rains triggered flash floods in Buea, the chief town of Cameroon's Southwest region, local authorities said Sunday, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

According to David Mafani Namange, mayor of Buea council, the flood was triggered by several hours of heavy rain Saturday which carried away cars and debris and inundated the basement and ground floors of some buildings, turning roads into rivers.

"Two corpses were recovered on Saturday. The material damage is quite huge. The women in the market have lost all their goods," Namange told Xinhua over the phone early Sunday while evaluating the damage caused by "the unprecedented" flood.

At least 10 people were receiving treatment in hospitals in the town after sustaining injuries from the disaster.

Speaking to pressmen after their tour of the damage sites, the South West Regional Delegates of Environment and Nature Protection and his counterpart of Scientific Research and Innovation, said floods in Buea are not a strange happening, given that it is community at the foot of the mountain.

According to Dr George Mafany Teke, South Regional Delegate of Scientific Research and Innovation, what happened was a flashflood.

“We experienced a flashflood in Buea on Saturday March 18, which is a natural phenomenon when there is very intense rain fall. In our case of Mount Cameroon, the rain fell at the higher reaches of the mountain and collated in the ravines and then flowed into the waterways downstream where there are settlements. Sometimes, the rain falls up the mountain without the people downstream knowing and when this happens, the water collates and may surprise people downstream,” he said.

On his part, the South West Regional Delegate of Environment and Nature Protection, Set Ekwadi, said such a phenomenon will be aggravated by climate change.

He, however, added that the high speed of the water was as a result of the lack of forests to absorb the water from the mountain. With the continuous cutting of trees up the mountain, he added, there are little factors to slow the pace of the water from the mountain.

Casualties, damage results of human activities

While the floods were a natural phenomenon, Dr George Mafany Teke, contended that the casualties and the damage resulted from human behaviour.

“The casualties we saw are a result of human behavior, because people have built and encroached into the waterways. So, when water flows down, its paths become blocked and it has to force its way. This is when it overflows and causes this destruction and damage,” Dr Mafany said.

To mitigate the consequences of floods on the people and their property, Set Ekwadi, urged the population to desist from building on gutters or natural waterways.

“People have to avoid building in the gutters, because we have natural water paths from the mountain. When people block them, we cannot challenge nature. People must also reduce the felling of trees in the mountain, so that they can absorb some of the water from the rains,” he noted.

 

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Ayuk Divine

21.Mar.2023

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A car belonging to the US Embassy in Cameroon was involved in an accident on Monday the 20th of March 2023 on the section of road between the city of Yaounde and the International Airport (Nsimalen). It is reported that the driver of the diplomatic SUV lost his life in the terrible accident. We cannot confirm whether diplomats were in the car at the time of the crash

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Ayuk Divine

21.Mar.2023

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