October 1, 2007

As early as 6am on October 1, the populations of the Azire neighborhood in Bamenda, Kumbo, Ndu, Wum, Muyuka, Mbot and other towns in the Southern Cameroons woke up to the singing of the Southern Cameroons national anthem.

While all went on relatively smoothly in Bamenda, Ndu, Mbot, and other areas, the situation in Kumbo, Jakiri, Ndop and Muyuka were different.

In Kumbo, Mr. Stephen Kongso, the local leader of the SCNC was arrested alongside Mallam Issa Yuyar, Victor Ndiydiy, and a cameraman whose equipment were seized by the security forces. Mallam Issa Yuyar is said to have been beaten.

The Jakiri, local SCNC leader, Frederick Barah Njoka, the Ngoketunjia coordinator Philemon Mongo, and three others: Thomas Ntogang, John Ndi and James Mofor were all arrested and detained.They were only released on Wednesday October 3, 2007 on bail after the intervention of Prince Mbinglo, Northern zone Chairman of SCNC. Those arrested in Ndop and Muyuka were released without posting bail.

Flags Galore

For the first time, the Southern Cameroons flags were hoisted in Wum. In Bafut, a security officer who was attempting to climb a pole to pull down the hoisted flag fell and sprained his leg. In Ndu, three flags were hoisted. Reports say that when the Divisional Officer of Ndu went round removing them, he was jeered at by the population. In the village of Mbot, in Nkambe sub-division, the commemorations were reported to have passed smoothly.