Worsening humanitarian crisis in Nwa: Mayor reveals at least 29 kidnappings for ransom reported in municipality.

Going by the Mayor, life in Nwa municipality has become unbearable due to the incessant and high rate of kidnapping and request for payment of ransom before release.

He stressed that the rising phenomenon is greatly impoverishing the entire subdivision and made life unbearable. 

“The people live in fear of the unknown and are kidnapped in turns unperturbed,” Mayor Menyong said.

Fulanis accused of perpetrating kidnaps 

The mayor, in his epistle, indicted the Fulanis for the countless kidnappings in the area. 

“The kidnappers are said to be from Nigeria, working with some unscrupulous Fulanis of this Subdivision,” he stated. 

He went further to detail the names of those kidnapped “within this short period of time”, their functions, duty services and contacts. Of the 29 listed persons, majority are from the education community. 

The list shows that 21 persons are teachers from either government primary schools in Mbat, Kom, Mbem, Bang-Adere, Lus, Mback-Mfe, Mbirikpa, Muram-Gamfe, Jah, Ntong, Nwanti, Nwurong, Wajiri, Yang or Baptist school in Gom.

In addition, four workers, including nurses of Nwa District Hospital have equally suffered similar faith.

Also, two businesspersons in Sabongari, the Nwa Branch Manager of Bamenda Police Cooperative Credit Union, BAPCCUL, as well as four other villagers have recently suffered kidnappings from the armed Fulanis. 

Demands military base

In his proposal to the authorities, the Mayor of Nwa Council pleaded for a military base to be set up in the subdivision to help alleviate the situation.

According to the mayor, a military base in strategic locations in the subdivision will help put to check the activities of the Fulanis groups, separatist fighters and the trafficking of arms, which pose a greater danger to not only the municipality, but the entire nation. 

“If there is a Military camp installed in Upper Mbat in Mfumte and another one in Mbirikpa or Nking in the Mbaw plain, it may check the activities of these criminals and protect the citizens of this area; who are already frustrated,” the mayor pleaded.

The mayor’s plea for a military base to be set up in the Subdivision follows similar appeal made by the Member of Parliament, MP, for Nwa, Hon Adamu Edward Lambe. 

The MP who was reacting to the recent Fulanis attacks in Mbat village last Friday February 13 and Saturday February 14 which saw over 200 houses, school and church, burnt down as well as homes, properties and provision stores looted. 

Going by Hon Adamu Edward Lambe the porous nature of the terrain coupled with the recent Fulanis activities pose a grave security threat to Nwa subdivision and the entire nation. 

“If you don't rescue us in our subdivision, the situation will deteriorate and when it deteriorates, the entire nation will be at risk because it's an entrance and exit through Nigeria. We know that the proliferation of arms from Nigeria into Cameroon is very common,” the Nwa MP had warned, while reacting to the latest attack by Fulanis. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3709 of Friday February 20, 2026