Ndop: Amba fighters dare God!.

The separatist fighters abducted the man of God in Baba I, since November 15, 2025.

He remains in the unknown, despite an ultimatum which the Archbishop of Bamenda, His Grace Andrew Nkea, issued for his unconditional release. 

The posture of the Amba fighters who claim to be fighting for the interest of Anglophones, has been described as daring God Almighty.

Archbishop Nkea had in a Pastoral Statement, issued on November 23, 2025, threatened tough moves if the priest was not released by Friday, November 28. 

Shockingly, the abductors have given a deaf ear to the ultimatum of the prelate and maintained the kidnapped priest in captivity. 

The Archbishop had publicly declared firm steps, including the shutdown of all parishes and Catholic institutions in Ndop Deanery and a march to the camp of separatists in Baba I. The Guardian Post has been reliably informed that none of the actions materialised, even as the priest remains in captivity.

In his statement issued on November 23 and read in all parishes, Archbishop Nkea provided a strict timeline. He had warned that if Fr. John Berinyuy was not released by last Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the entire Ndop Deanery was going to be closed. 

Nkea had further instructed that the Blessed Sacrament be removed and tabernacles left open, if the priest was not freed.

The Archbishop had said he was “requesting all the priests, religious personnel from all Catholic Institutions in Ndop Deanery to close down the parishes, schools and all other Catholic Institutions and leave the Deanery till further notice”.

After the Wednesday deadline, the Ndop Deanery has remained fully operational. Parishes have continued holding masses, schools operational, and no withdrawal of clergy or religious personnel took place as Nkea had threatened. 

The silence that followed has prompted many to question why such a drastic directive was issued in the first place. The Archbishop had also promised an even more dramatic step. 

He had said if by last Friday, November 28, Fr. John Berinyuy was still held, he and other priests will stage a protest to Baba 1, where the priest is being held.

Nkea had announced that: “All the priests, religious and members of Christ’s lay faithful of the Archdiocese will go down to Baba 1… and either bring him back home, or remain there until he is released”.

Yet, Friday passed without any march, procession, or symbolic demonstration. No attempt, it has been observed, has been made to confront the abductors, despite the earlier vow. 

Many Christians and the population who initially praised his bold stance have continued to expressed hope that the man of God in captivity returns to his flock alive.

Circumstances of abduction

The crisis began on November 15, 2025, when the Parish Priest of Babessi and his assistant were abducted by armed men, believed to be Ambazonia fighters. The were said to be returning from a Mass in Ndop, following the inauguration of PAX university institute.

As Fr. John Berinyuy is still in captivity and none of the promised actions taken, the Archbishop’s uncompromising declarations are also being weighed at different levels. 

Many say the church should be exploring all possible means to ensure the priest regains freedom instead of going head-on with the separatist fighters.

Many faithful who continue to pray for the priest’s release, are said to be interpreting the continuous keeping of the man of God as an aberration and a curse upon those who are holding him.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3642 of Monday December 01, 2025