NWSW Regions: Ambazonia Lockdown That Divides Opinion
The unanimity of a lockdown was once again put to test on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, as Ambazonian groups engaged in a cold war over who should call for a lockdown and when it should be implemented. This issue of lockdown has always been a problem that has beaten all records of never having a solution among the leaders.
This has been the bone of contention since 2018 when October 1 approaches. But did the Sako-led Interim Government take other groups by surprise when they announced a two weeks lockdown? While the population says the call for a two weeks lockdown is heavy on them- the promoters announced that Fridays Saturdays and Sundays will be outing days for the people to replenish their food baskets.
The Ayaba-led Ambazonia Governing Council has stood against the lockdown tooth and nail, arguing that it will be too much of a burden to the local population especially as they plan for October 1 commemoration. If you have been monitoring and critically analyzing the various groups, you would say that arguments over lockdown are a “déjà vu”. The Sako-led IG opines that the Cameroon government is planning to tell the international community that things are back to normalcy in the Anglophone regions, hence the need to baptize the lockdown, the “Guterres Lockdown”, name of the UN Scribe. So who controls ground zero? This is a statement that is mostly used by Activists affiliated with various groups but let us take a tour of how September 15 looked like.
While circulation began timidly in the early hours, it quickly gained steam and other businesses were opened in Limbe, South West region. In Buea most of the outskirts like Muea, Mile 16, Dibanda went into their shelves – taxis, private vehicles could be seen circulating in Buea but major institutions like Banks and other businesses remained closed. Some institutions are still monitoring the situation to make a decision. Buea by night resumed with the usual hustling and bustling. But a majority of the Taxi drivers are not going beyond Molyko.
In Nkambe and Fundong, North West region activities were carried out normally- these two towns seldom respect orders from the Ambazonian groups. The Military base in Nkambe has been a huge advantage to the state party. But the neighboring town of Ndu was the opposite.
In other major Cities and Towns like Bamenda, Kumba, Kumbo, Muyuka the call for a lockdown was respected with previously hot spots, transformed into “graveyards”. Videos from Guzang in Batibo subdivision also show how the town was deserted. In Mamfe town, things went on normal but the outskirts of Mamfe was shut down paralyzing the work of drivers plying the Mamfe- Kumba-Douala road.
