The Abductors Of The DO Of Idabato, Ewane Roland, Mount Pressure For Huge Ransoms To Be Rapidly Paid For His Release

 Their release of a video in which the DO of Idabato was subjected to severe torture, was a villainous strategy by the hoodlums to mount pressure on the DO’s family and sympathizers

Cameroon Gov’t expresses “indignation at the extremely cruel physical abuse, heartless and degrading treatment to which this high – ranking public servant has been subjected”.

Gov’t assures that everything is being done for the liberation of the DO of Idabato, Ewane Roland.

The Nigerian pirates that abducted the DO of Idabato, have reportedly been mounting incessant pressure on his family to pay the ransoms being demanded. They have repeatedly threatened to kill the DO, Roland Ewane, if their demands are not met, and rapidly too. According to the wife of the DO, who talked to some local TV channels, the kidnappers first demanded 5 million US dollars. When the family pleaded that they could not afford that amount, the kidnappers later dropped to 3 million US dollars, then to 1 million dollars, and the last amount is 700,000 US dollars. Besides the money, the kidnappers are also demanding 10 generators, and a model Yamaha (200 horse power). They are also demanding the release of some Nigerians they say are at the Buea Prison.

As is the common strategy of kidnappers to mount pressure for the payment of ransoms, the Nigerian pirates that abducted the DO of Idabato, recently released a video that went viral on social media, in which the DO that was seen being subjected to extreme torture, cried out: “Please my brothers and sisters, contribute that money and bring”. Kidnappers also have the tendency to tell their victims what to say, when they have to record something and put it out.

The wife of the abducted DO of Idabato who understandably is so traumatized by the incident, disclosed in the interviews that the abductors or kidnappers call in the morning, afternoon and evening, threatening to kill her husband, if their demands are not quickly met.  She said the abductors worsen the situation for her, as whenever they call, the husband is always in the background, crying.

Government Does Not Pay Ransoms

An audio of a discussion between the kidnappers of the DO of Idabato  and a close family of the DO working on the issue with the DO’s wife, leaked out on the social media. The man was heard in the video pleading to the Nigerian pirates to accept the amount of money they have been raised. He explained that only the DO’s wife and himself had struggled to raise some money, and that the DO’s wife was forced to sell their property. The money had been converted from francs CFA into US dollars, as demanded by the kidnappers.

It should be noted that since the escalation of the Anglophone Crisis into an armed conflict between Government troops and separatist fighters in late 2017, that soon further degenerated into a business for separatist fighters to  kidnap civilians for ransoms, the Cameroon Government has since made it a policy not to pay ransoms to kidnappers. Not only that, the Government discourages people from paying ransoms to kidnappers to liberate their love ones, and considers anybody who pays ransoms as a sponsor of terrorism.

This is what has certainly made things very difficult or complicated for the family of Roland Ewane, the abducted DO of Idabato. Southwest elites, including the Prime Minister, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute,  cannot contribute money to pay for the payment of the ransoms being demanded by the Nigerian pirates, for  the release of the DO Ewane. This is certainly for fear that if the information leaks, they will be in serious trouble, as they will be accused of sponsoring terrorism.

Government’s Long Silence Sparks Criticism

Meanwhile the Cameroon Government came under criticism by the opposition, especially Prof Maurice Kamto’s MRC, as well as by many civil society organizations, for its silence following the abduction of the DO of Idabato, whom they repeatedly referred to as the representative of the President of the Republic in Idabato. There was no doubt that the Cameroon Government was silently engaged in diplomatic contacts with the Government of neighbouring Nigeria, as both countries have an agreement on cross –border cooperation. However what was being criticized was that for over a month following the abduction of the Idabato DO,  the Government did  not come out with a statement to officially inform Cameroonians about the unfortunate incident. The MRC, Maurice Kamto, leader came out with the statement on the abduction of the DO, and among other things criticized the silence of Government.

The Deputy Secretary of the MRC, Roger Noah, explained over Vision 4 TV in Yaounde on Sunday, November 24, 2424, that in such a situation, it was the Government and not the opposition party (MRC) that was supposed to come out with a statement. He said the National President of MRC, Maurice Kamto, was finally forced to come out with a statement on the abduction of the DO of Idabato, after they had waited for more than a month following the incident, but the Biya or CPDM Government did not, scandalously enough, issue a statement on the incident. The MRC Deputy Scribe even argued that the Government which finally came out with a statement on November 22, 2024, that is, over 50 days after the abduction of the DO of Idabato, was forced to finally issue a statement, following the statement that was issued by the National President of MRC.

Government Finally Reacts     

Meanwhile the November 22, 2024 Government communiqué on the abduction of the sub –divisional Officer (DO) of Idabato, in Ndian Division of the Southwest Region, was signed by the Minister of Communication, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, who doubles as the Government Spokesperson.

Below Is The Entire Content Of The Government Communiqué:

“In the night of 30^th September to 1^st October 2024, at around 2am, Mr Ewane Roland, the Sub –divisional Officer of Idabato, a locality in the Bakassi Peninsula, in Ndian Division of the Southwest Region, was abducted from home, alongside with a council official, Etongo Ismael, by a group of heavily armed pirate terrorists from a neighbouring and brotherly country, according to sources from local administrative authorities.

The Government of the Republic strongly condemns this odious, cowardly and despicable acts perpetrated by lawless individuals against the representatives of the State.

The Government expresses its deep indignation at the extremely cruel physical abuse, heartless and degrading treatment to which this high –ranking public servant has been subjected, and which has no justification whatsoever.

In the same vein, the Government extends the sympathy and comfort of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya, to members of the affected families, as well as to the people of Idabato.

Finally, the Government wishes to make it known that every effort is being made to preserve the life of the Sub – divisional Officer of Idabato and that of his collaborator, and to obtain a happy ending to this unfortunate affair”.

By Joe Dinga Pefok (Uncle Joe)

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