Bamenda Main Market fire disaster: Civic emergency assistance scheme launched to succour victims.

The humanitarian initiative was launched Tuesday February 27. The fund drive, powered by Yaounde-based North West elite, has been gaining steam. 

The charitable endevour is tagged: “Civic emergency assistance for the helpless victims of the Bamenda Main Market fire disaster”. 

The fund drive has been placed under the Coordination of CPDM Politburo member, Senator Regina Mundi; the Minister Delegate at Presidency in charge of Supreme State Audit, Mbah Acha Rose Fomundam; former Governor cum National Coordinator of the National Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Committee, Fai Yengo Francis and the Director General of Customs, Fongod Edwin Nuvaga. 

Initiator on urgent need to assist victims 

The humanitarian scheme, it should be noted, is championed by selfless State servant and respected elite of the North West Region, H.E Felix Mbayu.

The career diplomat and inspiring community service mobiliser, who has been at the origin of several historic moves that have turned the pain of the masses to joy, explained in a statement officially announcing the fund drive, that it was motivated by calls from sons and daughters of the municipality, Division and Region as a whole. 

He called on elite of the North West Region and other people of goodwill, to federate forces financially and urgently come to the rescue of the fire victims. 

The grassroots politician and heavyweight of the ruling CPDM party, said the civic assistance drive aims to “alleviate the pain and suffering of these helpless victims and give hope to their families”.

“We hereby plead with you to join us in this humanitarian endeavour,” appealed Minister Mbayu, who has time-tested integrity and savoir-faire in leading charitable works for common good. 

Mbayu who doubles as Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge Cooperation with the Commonwealth, explained that such urgent financial contribution will complement measures being taken by “national, regional, and local authorities to mitigate the pain of the victims and to build back better this important economic infrastructure”.

“However, it has become more obvious to us through urgent appeals and calls that the tragic incident left many high and dry. The dire situation of these victims cannot wait for the statutory government procedures to come to fruition,” he explained.

Sources have attested that Minister Mbayu is permanently in contact with sons and daughters of the North West Region, within and without Cameroon, as well as other potential donors; pleading with them to see reason to contribute to the civic emergency assistance scheme. 

By press time last night, we gathered that at least 40 million FCFA had been raised, with expectations of more contributions to come in.

How to contribute 

All contributions, as per the statement, are to be channelled through the Private Secretary of the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Azaah Njei Nelson. 

This can be done through the Mobile Money on the number 677 263 599. The initiator and coordinators also insist that contributions through the above Mobile Money account should include the corresponding withdrawal charges.

Minister Mbayu not new to community fund drives 

Minister Mbayu, it should be recalled, spearheaded and steered a laudable community initiative to acquire a cozy bus for North West elite one football club, Public Works Department, PWD of Bamenda, fondly known as “P Tonton”. This was when the team lost their bus to a fire accident in March 2021.

His ever-inspiring ideas and rallying efforts through the fundraising campaign, saw over 60 million FCFA raised. 

The initiative rallied all and sundry, notwithstanding their region, political or religious orientations. 

Minister Mabyu equally launched a fund drive that raised over 50 million FCFA to support PWD Bamenda during Cameroon Cup finals in 2023 against Fovu of Baham. 

It should be recalled that be it with the Minister Mbayu-led drive for the purchase of a bus for PWD Bamenda, support for PWD Bamenda's participation at the Cameroon Cup final and currently support for Bamenda market fire victims, contributions are pouring in, not only from sons and daughters of North West origin, but equally from prominent elite from the South West Region.

The swiftness and enthusiasm which greet these financial drives, analysts attest, are strong indications of Minister Mbayu's towering credibility and popularity within the North West and South West Regions. 

Mezam SDO opens registration of victims 

Authorities in the North West Region have, as per a release issued February 28, by the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Mezam, Simon Emile Mooh, begun assessing and evaluating the damaged shops of victims.

The exercise is expected to have commenced yesterday as from 10:00a.m. 

Victims, according to the release from the SDO, were expected to be present at their respective business sites yesterday for the exercise. 

The victims were expected to present copies of their National Identity Cards and other documents testifying their rights of ownership. 

The SDO, in the release, appealed for the sense of responsibility of all those concerned for the “important exercise”. 

B’da market fire victims urged to be calm

Victims of the fire incident had last weekend been cautioned to remain calm for competent authorities to investigate the cause of the incident. 

This was when administrative, municipal and security officials visited the incident scene Friday February 23, to access the damage.

North West Governor, Adolphe Lele L'afrique, after visiting the scene, extended words of comfort from the Presidential Couple to the distressed traders. 

He assured the victims that they will be compensated, adding that the bills of all those who incurred injuries during the fire incident and were receiving treatment in hospitals will be taken care of.

The victims were equally told to prepare and make themselves available for a commission to record what they lost in the fire. The commission is also expected to investigate and reveal the exact cause of the fire.

New and safer shops, it was revealed, would be constructed by the City Council to avoid such incidents in the future.

The Chief of Centre for the Army Rescue in Bamenda, Senior Warrant Officer Taku Paul, said about 300 shops were completely consumed by the fire. 

It was equally revealed that about 30 persons were received in health facilities as a result of the incident.

Flashback to the fire incident proper

It was on Thursday February 22, at about 5:30 p.m., when wild fire engulfed parts of the Bamenda Main Market. Witnesses said the incident generated from a particular shop, though they were unable to get the exact cause of the fire.

It took the firefighters the whole night on Thursday and Friday morning to arrest the situation. After the incident, several persons and groups, including CPDM Senators from the Region and the Archbishop of Bamenda, have been sending words of comfort to the victims. 

The Chairman of the United Democratic Party, UDP, El Hadj Lawan Bako, was the first politician to visit the site of the fire incident to sympathise with the victims.

Next was the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, Hon Joshua Osih, who visited the market on Saturday February 24. He assured the victims that they will be compensated. 

Since January 2024, the town of Bamenda has witnessed about nine fire incidents, according to Senior Warrant Officer Taku Paul.