By Boris E.N
Separatist fighters in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon who have been fighting for autonomy for the last four years are in disagreement over a supposedly fifteen (15) days lockdown across the Anglophone Regions.
In audios circulating on social media, and heard by this reporter, the fighters are counteracting each other and accusing one another of trying to go against the "lockdowns."
The supposedly fifteen days lockdown across the North West and South West Regions was purportedly made by the Ground Zero spokesperson and it is to start on September 15 to end on October 2. Just a day after October 1; a day when the fighters claim it is their independence day from "French Cameroun" or "La Republic."
Two camps have sprung up with one supporting the call for the lockdown while another is completely against it. General Sagad, Colonel Shogi, and GrandPa, all of Fako and one General from Meme (Joker) are all reportedly opposed to the lockdown calls while Field Marshal from Lebialem and others are in support of it.
In audio on September 12, one of Generals Gabonese said there will not be any lockdown inside "Ambazonia" territory for now. "If that will be, we will still come on air and make our people know. But for now, we do not have any lockdown…," He said, though this reporter could not ascertain his full identity.
He went further to state: "The population should carry out their activities without any fear of anybody. We are out to protect you people and your property and we are out to stand for the people…"
In another audio reportedly to be from Field Marshal, presents a different message. He went further to reiterate that the fifteen days lockdown that has been imposed stays and the dates have been maintained.
"The lockdown starts on September 15 and nothing will change for that. Everyone should stand their ground and nothing will change," Field Marshal said in the audio heard by this reporter. The veracity of the audios cannot, however, be confirmed independently.
Lockdowns biting Anglophones and not "La Republic"
The outright goal of the separatist fighters is to make sure that things do not function in the English-speaking Regions to make "Yaounde" sit up and take action. But for the past years that lockdowns have been in place, one thing is clear, the local inhabitants in the North West and South West Regions are the ones suffering while things in other parts of the country go on unperturbed.
Move across the North West and South West Regions and the other parts of the country like Littoral and Centre Regions and you will see a completely different picture; it is like night and day especially on the so-called "ghost town" days.
The hustle and buzzing are the other of day in the other Region and inhabitants go about their daily activity trying to put food on their table. Cars, businesses and nightclubs are opened every hour of the day with no signs of any problem.
That is a stark difference from the case witness in the North West and South West Regions where most businesses are almost completely shut down. Shops and businesses are closed with the businesses person fearing reprisals from the fighters. The economy of the Region that was on the upward trajectory has been battered and in other Regions is completely broken.