Bambalang youths beg on separatist fighters to release Fon Kevin Yakum

By Nukapuh P.

Some sons and daughters of Bambalang village in Ndop, Ngoketunjia division in the North West region have begged on separatist fighters to release their father, Fon Kevin Yakum who has been held hostage for more than a year.

The youths met on Sunday April 2, 2023 in Yaounde under the canopy of Mbaw Yakum Youths, headed by their national president, Mingo Pius.

The come together, which was purposefully to plan for an upcoming peace conference also saw many important things discussed, amongst which the issue of their Fon.

According to the youth president, if separatist fighters have not achieve their aims for over 6 years of fighting and killing, then keeping their Fon in captivity won’t help them gain Independence.

“It’s really terrible, if separatist fighters haven’t had Independence since they kidnapped the Fon, that should tell them that keeping him in captivity won’t help them or end the Anglophone crisis. We are begging on them to release him before our peace conference so that we can sit and discuss on our development,” Mingo Pius said.

It was also revealed during the come together that Bambalang village, just like other communities in the North West region has suffered a lot as a result of the over 6 – year Anglophone crisis. The youths regretted that many of their projects have not been executed because of the prolonged crisis which barred them from getting eay access to the village.

Kidnapped on December 7, 2021, Fon Kevin Yakum who doubles as president of the North West House of Chiefs has spent closed to 1 year 4 months in the hands of separatist fighters.

The traditional authority was caught at his own palace in Bambalang and taken to an unknown location by armed separatist fighters. Reports say he went to the village for a traditional ceremony.

Since his kidnap, nothing clearly has been heard concerning his case. Even the government of Cameroon has been criticized several times for keeping sealed lips on his case, unlike other authorities who have gone through same situation in the conflict hit regions.

On November 13, 2022, the kidnapped Fon was seen in a video, calling on the government to release family members of notorious separatist fighter, Mbashie Clement popularl known as No Pity.