No one knows their whereabouts, but many think they have joined the trending forces popularly referred to as Boko Haram and the "Amba Boys".
Finance Junction (main entrance into Bamenda) |
Regular bans on commercial motorbikes in major cities of the North West and South West regions as means to counter armed groups in these regions have left many young people who depend on the activity gnashing their teeth. The bans are still in full force in localities like Widikum, Bafut and Batibo, thus the lure to join armed groups in hope for a better future becomes tempting.
I talked to this gentleman who at the time of one of these administrative bans of bikes in Bafut, was the President of the bike riders in his neighbourhood but has since relocated to Bamenda.
Former president of a bike union in Bafut |
Consider students who have spent over 15 years in school, obtaining one certificate to the other, but no jobs for them. Nothing else looms in their minds but frustration. Thousands of unemployed youths are stocked with many certificates but nowhere to go.
Ndonwi Derick Shu, Former SDF National Socialist Youths Coordinator is a Masters degree holder in Business and Management. Unemployment is the main reason he decided to gainfully employ himself and 47 others by cultivating ginger on this piece of land in Bafut.
Ndonwi Derick Shu (Farmer) |
Inhabitants have been hurt in one way or the other. People have lost their lives, property, houses reduced to ashes, businesses paralyzed and many people internally displaced.
In anonymity, a local administrator on phone spoke to this reporter, "You know it all Ambe. That is exactly the reason. More than 30 bikes were burnt in Bafut and as if that was not enough, the Governor placed a permanent ban on the movement of bikes in Bafut. As such, almost all the young men who were engaged in this activity for a living, had no option than to enter the bush."
Accepted, the iron can be bent if it is still hot, but how will it be bent now when he to do so is afraid of the heat? A thousand dollars question.
Ambe Macmillian A.
PJ Advocate.
Great piece
ReplyDeleteConfirm. Good investigative reporting
ReplyDeleteGood job Presi.
ReplyDelete