At opening of Governors’ Confab: MINAT boss sends grim message to media, political parties, NGOs….

Minister Atanga Nji made the declarations in Yaounde yesterday as he opened the first bi-annual Conference of Regional Governors. 

Besides the 10 governors of the nation attending the meeting, are the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguelle and the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Yves Galax Etouga.

Minister Atanga Nji hammered on the need to rally citizens in the direction of promoting peace, living together and fight against hate speech and tribalism. Topical issues affecting the nation, he said, will form the basis of discussions.

On this score, he directed Governors to monitor political parties, NGOs and the media.

Issues under discussion

Besides evaluating the security situation of the nation, Minister Atanga Nji cited the fight against street medicines, the sale and consumption of drugs and narcotics, the rate of execution of major development projects, fight against urban disorder, compulsory identification of all motorbike, cab drivers and owners of commercial motorbikes and taxis, monitoring of the activities of associations and NGOs, fight against land speculation and the updating of the database of  traditional rulers  nationwide.

Crime wave, urban disorder alarming nationwide

According to the member of government, in the last six months, there has been an increase in crime in urban and semi-urban areas. He mentioned assaults in taxis which he said are carried out in complicity with drivers. The MINAT boss also talked of attacks carried out by persons on board motorbikes, assassinations and robbery incidents.

 “It's time to bring order to the motorbike and city cab sectors. To do so, we are counting on the frank collaboration of the unions in these sectors of activity, and on the cooperation of the public,” the minister said. 

He also said the Head of State has called for actions to be taken to cripple gangs behind organised crimes nationwide.

“…I would like to say it loud and clear that the invisible cameras of the police and gendarmerie are on the trail of highway men, murderers, robbers and drug dealers. The police and gendarmerie nets are so vast that criminals never have the slightest space to hide,” Minister Atanga Nji stated. 

Drug consumption in school milieus

Minister Atanga Nji was categorical that the issue of drug trafficking and consumption in schools is the handiwork of networks that work with smugglers. 

He said consumers in schools sometimes work with unsuspecting individuals to rather worsen the situation. He stated that security forces will redouble efforts to track down those behind the practice.

Warning to media professionals 

One of yesterday’s novelties were the instructions handed to Governors to start monitoring media houses and their programs. 

Atanga Nji said some media organs and media practitioners have engaged in a campaign to destabilise Cameroon by abetting tribalism and hate speech.

“Media practitioners who indulge in these dangerous and anti-republican activities must always bear in mind that man is the master of what he intends to say, whereas man will always remain a slave to what has already been said. In simple terms, media practitioners must think twice before publishing or before making public pronouncements,” Atanga Nji warned.

West Region in joyous mood over major projects

The Governors used the opening session of the meeting to review the security situation of their respective Regions.

The Governor of the West Region, Awa Fonka Augustine, noted that on a general note, the situation in his unit of command is good.

Awa cited the existence of good roads and the ongoing works on the Babadjou-Matazen road as a thing of joy to the population.  

The Governor said the population of the West Region is more than happy that the road will be completed in December.

The elite, he said, are very involved in a good number of projects and government is accompanying them in all their ventures. 

In terms of sports, the super scale administrator said the Region is mobilising with the qualification of Fovu of Baham for the final of the Cup of Cameroon.

NW under control despite challenges 

For his part, North West Governor, Adolphe Lele L’Afrique, said the situation of the Region is under control, despite security challenges. He condemned Sunday’s killing of 10 innocent civilians by suspected Amba fighters at Nacho Junction. 

The confab which ends today is holding under the theme: “Security challenges against the backdrop of serious crimes and drug trafficking in schools”.