Several Anglophones residing in Banen, a village in Ndikiniméki Subdivision in the Mbam-and-Inoubou Division, Centre region, have been attacked with machetes and knives by natives of the village.
The attack, which occurred recently stems from land disputes, initially given to the Anglophones for free by the locals.
According to information gathered from trusted sources in the area, the Anglophone community in Banen village ran from the over 8-year armed conflict in the English speaking regions and settled in the area. Upon arrival, the natives of Banen gave them land for free to cultivate and develop.
Our source revealed that though the land was given for free, natives of the village usually ask for some donations, once in a while. But the visitors were recently demanded to pay huge amounts of money or pack out of the land, a demand that is said to have sparked tension, resulting to several casualties.
“There was no problem when the Anglophones started farming…now the price of cocoa has stepped up, and the people of Banen are demanding to have their lands back, of which the Anglophones have already developed…they used to pass time to time and collect some money, but this time they asked all the Anglophones to leave their lands,” a source told CNA.
“They usually come with guns, knives and machetes, once they demand money and you don’t give, they brutalize you. So this time around, the Anglophones stood their ground that they wouldn’t give anything nor leave their properties,” our source added.
The recent resistance from the visitors led to a fierce exchange with several persons said to have been wounded in the act. Properties like houses, cocoa, and others are equally destroyed.
Authorities are reported to have stepped in to resolve the conflict, but our source revealed that the peaceful negotiation did not yield fruits as there is still tension in the village.
