After over 100 dreaded Amba ‘Generals’ killed: Shouldn’t these last two standing surrender?.

When Catholic Bishops first described the bloodletting in the North West and South West Regions, as a “senseless war” five years ago, many didn’t understand them.

Then, the clerics had issued a detailed letter, touching on the very issues that are at the core of the decades-old Anglophone problem in Cameroon.

Then, the Biya regime was still battling to adjust to the reality of new generation war lords who had emerged on and off line. While the people who called the shots online infused their agenda on those back home and misleading more, especially youth to pick up arms against the state, government was left with no choice than activating its military might.

Since then, it has been an all-out battle, pitting security forces instructed to maintain Cameroon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and gun-toting youngsters under the influence of a secessionist movement which many say is also at war with itself. 

That casualties have been recorded on both sides is something no one can deny. The deluges of the war, analysts say, show that the momentum that welcomed the crusade to restore what some say is the statehood of former South Cameroon, has weaned.

Even the clusters of self-proclaimed freedom fighters, many are now saying, have proven on several occasions that they have lost touch with reality. Amba hoodlums, masquerading as Anglophone freedom fighters, have, more than before, been engaged in the business of kidnapping the same Anglophones they claim to be fighting for, for huge ransoms. The number of Anglophones slaughtered by the so-called freedom fighters, runs into hundreds!

Granted that such are the spoils of war, the number of youngsters who have crumbled under military firepower since the government offensive against separatist fighters, many say, shows that those still masquerading as freedom fighters in bushes need to have a rethink.

On the strength of this reasoning, the second chance life is offering many of these youngsters, is a-tomorrow clothe in President Paul Biya’s disarmament drive. 

Many say given the pressure facing separatist fighters on several fronts, they still have the chance to return home and follow the path set by the Head of State for re-insertion through the disarmament centres.

 

Figures, drifts that call for a rethink

Others say those who still have the chance to live should not even think twice about surrendering to restart their lives all over. This, they say, can be deduced from the over 100 self-styled Amba Generals who have perished in the conflict.

Many of these persons, conflict experts are concurring, risk having died for nothing; given that in over six years and still counting in the conflict, Cameroon has not lost any inch of its territory. 

In addition, the international community, which separatists were initially counted on to facilitate their dream independence, is rather ‘Nicodemously’ and overtly engaged in business with Yaounde and endorsing and applauding President Biya’s North West and South West Regions reconstruction agenda.

Amba fighters, pundits are also submitting, should quit standing on the path of the barrel and return to the dreams of their lives. Those who hold this thought are pointing to the scores of self-appointed separatist activists and leaders who vowed to stop at nothing in fighting the government but are silently going about their businesses across Europe and the America’s today.

For Amba fighters, some say, the time is ticking, and ticking fast; they must make hey while it is still day. The Diaspora Amba movement lot, they say, has discovered that there is no progress and are quietly quitting the ‘revolution’.

 

Over 100 Amba ‘Generals’ eliminated!

Between 2017 when guns started coughing till date, observers talk of hundreds of Amba kingpins who have been dwarfed into extinction. Ironically, must of them had shouted from their hideouts how they were going to do even what Napoleon Bonaparte left undone. 

Some set deadlines to achieve their dream independence while others basked in their talisman, tokens and totems that got them drunk in a deception of being invisibles and immortals. 

Records show that some died trying to fight the military, others were  killed by their peers; some were lynched by the population and others, gave up the ghost in caves and other places where they used to hide and come out to gyrate from time to time.

That was then; now the new emerging wind is that of those who still have the luxury of being alive, beginning to surrender.

But before this new wind, many kissed death to the shock and disbelief of their peers and supporters. The truth remains, they have gone to the world beyond, never to return again. 

Some had names that left many laughing others, used pseudonyms powered from demonic altars.  Some of the names sound unreal but there were once robust and able bodied youngsters behind them, whom, many say, wasted their lives.

They are: Field Marshal of Lebialem, Field Marshal No Pity of Bambalang, General Godfather of Muyuka, General Apande Kingsley, General Ikeku David of Ndian, General Animal Pikin of Manyu,  General Papi of Manyu,  General Ashu,  General Beltus of Fako, Field Marshal Vincent of Ndu, Fon Nginyam of Bui, General John Rambo of Bamusso, General Blink of Bambili, General Ayeke of Lebialem, General Spirito, General Hassan of Bui, Above the Law of Kumbo, General David of Teke, General Nanfang of Ngie in Momo, General Mad Dog of Mankon, General Divine, General Chacha of Bui, General Insobu of Bui, Boss Acid of Bali, General Opopo of SOCADEF, General Virus, General Obi of Muyuka,  General Andrew of SOCADEF, General Ivo Mbah of Matoh and Teke, Unknown Soldier of Bafanji, General Sebastien of Widikum in Momo, General Commando- King of the forest of Momo, General Roma of Lebialem, General Cross and Die of Mankon, General Koraman of Bali, General Shadow of Bakundu, General Ambrose of Lebialem, General Ntui Lambert of Manyu, General Soup of Batibo, General Manu Tiger of Bui, General Tiger of Batibo, General Tunde of Nkambe,  General One Bullet of Batibo, Colonel Ebot Ebot of Manyu, Boss Menti of Etam, General Christian of Widikum, General Spoiler of Bafanji, General Unknown soldier of Bafanji, General Wolf of Bui, General Wazuzu of Muyuka, General Boss Kala of Ntangka, Field Marshall Insobu of Bui, General Amadou of Bui, General E Done Wowo, General Virus of Mutengene, General Divine, General Transporter, Field Marshall Chacha of Bui, General Charger of Muyuka, General Obi of Manyu, General Ivo Mbah of Tekeh, General Bush Rambo of Ngomgham, General Die Man of Lebielem/Manyu, General Dino of Bole Bakundu, General Aroby of Bambelang, General Black Jesus of Bui, Colonel A1 of Bui, General Kasimu of Vekovi, General Labour of Vekovi, General Terminator of Bui, General Desmond of Mokonje, General Desmond of Mokonje, General Witch Bird of Mbengwi, God Father, Gen Kasiminu of Vekovi,  General King of Lebialem Red Dragons, General Water, General Last Burial, Master of Balikumbat, General Trouble of Ndop, General Tiger of Bafut, Gen Sumonguru of Ndu, General Bad Beef, General  Nuel of Wind, General Satan of Oku, General Njaka, General Gen Denis, General Njaka of Oku, General Boss Acid of Bali, General Prince of Oku, General Cross and Die of Ntanka, General Basile of Meme, General Idi Amin Dada of Momo, General Amigo of Boyo, General A2 of Bui, General Ebube of Bui, General Biabia of Batibo, General Mombassa of Kossala-Kumba,  General Fonchinnallah Vincent of Lebialem, General Ayekeh, General Stone of Ndop, General Denis of Bui, General Tebah of Widikum and General Fire of Bamendakwe.

 

Shouldn’t ‘Generals’ Grand Pa, 10 Kobo surrender?

Though it took years for these youngsters who made nonsense of hard-earned military titles to go down, a rapid look across the North West and South West Regions, many say, shows none of them has a chance outside dropping their arms.

Across the 13 Divisions of the North West and South West Regions, many say, the two known dreaded separatist fighters still standing are ‘General’ Grand Pa, who operates across Bali Nyonga and parts of Mezam Division and ‘General’ 10 Kobo, said to be hiding in the forests of Ndian and Manyu Divisions. 

But he too has been hiding for long. His influence has greatly dwindled, reports hold. For all the atrocities they are alleged to have committed, watchers of the conflict say they, who are not even dreaded to the levels of their betters, the late Clement Mbashie aka ‘General’ No Pity and Oliver Likeaka aka Field Marshal, should think fast and surrender.

‘General’ 10 Kob,o whom many believe staged the attacks on six Divisional Delegates in Ndian, GBHS Ekondo-Titi and another that claimed the lives of the former  DO of Ekondo-Titi and Mayor, alongside others, it is being said, must not wait until when there is no way out to surrender. 

Even at their ‘best’, the last two Amba kingpins standing, those who have been monitoring the crisis argue and rightly so, have not attained the notoriety that the late Field Marshal, who raided Lebialem Division and No Pity, who threatened everything across  Ngokentunjia and beyond, did. 

If these two, who had almost become enigmas could be floored by security forces, those who believe in the power of time say, ‘Generals’10 Kobo and Grand Pa must rush out fast. 

Some believe that if they do not make use of the Presidential path to surrender, the forces of law and order will close in on them in due time. 

 

Recent examples to follow

The trend of events of recent has been that of more hardened Amba fighters opting to quit the bushes and get polished at DDR centres to begin what could be aptly described as their second chance in life.

Yesterday June 7, it was Felix Kibam aka ‘General’ Show of Mbessa and Bernard Kuh cum Oga Landlord who surrendered at the Fundong Gendarmerie Brigade. 

They surrendered after Ferdinand Mbashie aka ‘General’ Shina Rambo. He had in his time acted as immediate commander of the Marine Forces of Bambalang under his blood brother, the late ‘General’ No Pity. 

Months after his brother’s killing and unable to succeed him, Shina Rambo, at the close of May 2023, opted to surrender and return to the DDR centre in Bamenda.

Today, he has escaped the pressure of thinking how to continue fighting a war that is showing no progress on the separatist front. He is thus now on a reformation journey which many say, those still heading gangs and their aides in the bushes should follow without any waste of time. 

Before Shina Rambo, many others, among them ‘General’ Shankiki and Grand Pa of Awing, had dropped their guns. A few weeks ago, other Amba fighters from across Bui Division in the North West Region, are said to have surrendered. 

Before this, 18 others in Ndian Division did same recently. This trend, it is being said, remains the best way out for those carrying guns.

It should be recalled that to set the pace for abandoning the elusive Ambazonia independence dream, were dreaded Amba kingpins; General Nambere and Yannick Kawakawa. Both had seen the handwriting on the wall since 2019 and jumped out of the sinking Ambazonia ship.

 

What next?

Aside the momentum and call for all still in the bushes to surrender, many are also of the informed opinion that government must sit up and open other avenues of dialogue. Others are yet positing that there is the urgent need for the social reinsertion of Amba fighters who have been dropping arms for years now.

Conflict experts say and arguably so that, the dropping of guns by more Amba fighters is a fresh window those in power must use to engage key actors to end the crisis in the two English-speaking Regions. 

Analysts say Amba fighters, coming out of the bushes, is just a slim window that the Biya regime should exploit with genuine actions to address the Anglophone question once and for all. 

Skeptics are advancing that the same Anglophone question could spark another conflict in future if the current crisis is not properly addressed.

about author About author : Maxcel Fokwen

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