By Nchendzengang Tatah
FAKO DIVISION — The long-standing land conflict between Mbinde (Buea Subdivision) and Meveo Me Mbenge (Limbe I Subdivision) took a volatile turn this week, marked by mass arrests, structural demolitions, and heavy militarization of the disputed border area.
The April 21 Raid
The crisis escalated on the morning of April 21, 2026, when Mbinde community members reported that military officials, allegedly led by the Traditional Ruler of Meveo, HM Ndiko Fonderson, stormed the area. Using heavy-duty equipment, the team razed permanent structures and arrested several occupants.
One victim, a young woman released due to ill health, recounted her ordeal in Pidgin English: “We were whisked away at about 10:00 am and I was only released at 11:00 pm. They didn’t even allow me to take my medication.” As of April 22, several other detainees remain in custody.
Meveo Cites Legal Justification
Speaking off the record, Chief Ndiko Fonderson took responsibility for the exercise, likening the intervention to the biblical story of Noah’s flood—a necessary clearing after ignored warnings. He maintained that quit notices had been served to the occupants but were disregarded.
Chief Ndiko backed the action by citing court judgments No. 80Mis in CFIL/97c/2022 and 003/CRIM/2024 in CASWR/28cr/2023, which reportedly authorize the forceful eviction and prosecution of illegal occupants at their own expense.
A History of Violence
This is not the first instance of bloodshed in the area. The conflict has a grim history of retaliatory violence:
- The Mbinde Perspective: Traditional Council Chairman Wokama Valimbe Samuel maintains the land belongs to Mbinde. He criticized the government’s handling of the matter, noting that two commissions led by successive Fako Senior Divisional Officers (SDOs) failed to submit reports as instructed by the Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure.
- Prior Convictions: The Chief of Mbinde, Ndumbe Makoko Ndumbe (an Adjutant with the BIR), previously served 18 months in prison following a violent confrontation where Meveo occupants were chased off the land. Reports to the Buea Military Tribunal on February 19, 2026, also allege that following his release, Chief Ndumbe assaulted Chief Ndiko’s party with a machete.
Administrative Contradictions
The dispute is complicated by conflicting official directives. On March 11, 2024, Fako SDO Viang Mekala signed an order rehabilitating 15 villages, including Mbinde, which is officially demarcated to cover 710 hectares. However, portions of this same land currently bear land certificates issued to the Meveo community.
Claims of Ancestral Rights
While Mbinde residents have fled the latest demolition, Meveo villagers stayed to witness the exercise, claiming ancestral ties. “This area contains our ancestral graves,” asserted Sako Joseph, a Meveo resident who recalled being violently driven away in 2021 after being falsely labeled as a non-state armed actor.
Similarly, Leku Janette, who has farmed the land since 1992, expressed relief at the court-ordered intervention, viewing it as “justice at last” after years of uncertainty regarding subdivision boundaries.
Current Situation
The disputed territory remains under heavy military guard as demolition continues. While calls for a cessation of hostilities grow, the Fako administration has yet to issue an official statement regarding the arrests or the validity of the competing land claims.
