We were taken aback on November 21, 2016 by some disorder in Bamenda. We were however, quick to take necessary security measures to prevent any major destructions.

Unfortunately, the situation later degenerated when some vandals who gathered at City Chemist Roundabout marched towards the Bamenda City Council. We were obliged to secure the premises of the City Council after the Vandals moved to some major streets of the City where they mounted barricades and even harassed some of our security services. It is good enough that no major casualties were registered. Nobody died though a security Guard was shot in Tubah Sub Division and evacuated to Mbingo Baptist hospital for treatment.

It is against this background that we immediately took special security measures to keep the City and the University of Bamenda safe. The situation has progressively returned to normal since Tuesday morning. Among other actions taken, I presided a meeting on Monday, enlarged to involve stakeholder trade Unions that called the teachers strike action. The meeting also involved Religious authorities, especially the Archbishop of Bamenda and the Moderator of the PCC. I registered their concerns to forward to the government.

After the meeting, all of us were on the field to size up the situation and took time off to talk to the youths who were mounting barricades. Again, I invite the population to collectively join in bringing lasting peace to Bamenda.  Cameron is a State of Law and while we have taken special measures to keep the City secure, I want to assure all that we will not allow disorder to reign. There is a need for all to give dialogue a chance.