Nkwen Industrial Zone Saga:Genevieve Ndanga Held Hostage To Refund 76 Million FCFA

By Tegha Otega

A group of youths, who have been questioning the authenticity in the payment of compensation over the Nkwen industrial zone area, have been aghast. They have been at the fore, to understand why certain amount of money was disbursed by Christophe Mano George, General Manager of PIASSI, to some Nkwen locales. Within the last two months, the compensation criteria has been a subject of controversy. All recipients have been forced to refund what they received. Only Genevieve Ndanga, a native of Batibo and councilor of the Bamenda III council who had the lions share of the payment has been resisting.

Last Thursday June 28, 2012, councilor Genevieve was trapped at the Bamenda III council. She had allegedly been summoned for a meeting by the mayor, when youths stormed the council and took her hostage.

According to an eye-witness, Genevieve Ndanga, who received a cheque of 76 million FCFA escaped lynching following pleas from Mayor Fonguh Cletus. Chronicle gathered that she was thereon ferried to the Nkwen Fon’s palace with her new brand car, an ML 350 Mercedes jeep.

Upon arrival at the Nkwen palace, the keys of the car were seized and the tyres of the Mercedes deflated. At the Nkwen fon’s palace, Chronicle gathered that she was asked to respect to the dictates of a committee which had urged all those who were compensated, to refund all the money.

Mayor Fonguh, Chronicle long reported, refunded the cheque he was given in compensation of his land. Even Fon Ngufor of Nkwen had long refunded his after threats. He had received a cheque on behalf of his late daughter Ngafor Alice. Yet, had since been forced to refund it.

There is also one El Hadj whom Chronicle learnt stood his grounds. But then, with pressure from youths, had to send back his cheque to Justice Ngapgwa, chairman of the recovery committee.

Forced into the Nkwen Fon’s palace, Chronicle gathered that Councillor Genevieve was asked to refund the 76 million FCFA cheque, which was handed to her, in compensation for her land. A source averred that Councillor Genevieve pleaded that she had exhausted the money; that she bought her Mercedes jeep for CFA 10 million and had done other transactions. That at the Nkwen palace she was forced and some 642.000 FCFA was squeezed from her; that she promised to do something.

The heightened tension last Thursday was one that nothing could have been taken for chances. Chronicle gathered that but not of the Divisional Officer for Bamenda III, Councillor Genevieve would have been beaten to death.

While at the Nkwen Fon’s palace, Chronicle gathered that she made numerous phone calls, and thereafter started weeping. It is alleged that one of them could not have been without Ni John Fru Ndi, the SDF national chairman. It is however unclear what Fru Ndi might have told her. Yet, the Nkwen land issue remains tricky.

Nkwen youths have been furious of the fact that the decision to auction the land for the industrial zone remains a mafia. They say their parents cannot auction land whereas their offspring are there, expecting to develop it. Worse still, those who had been compensated are suspected. It is unclear as to the fact that the amount paid, can adequately equate the land earmarked.

Only councilor Ndanga is yet to refund her 76 million FCFA. Nkwen youths say her car and residence at GTHS Street would be auctioned to recover the money. Yet, as Chronicle gathered, no one knows what would be done with the money collected back. Would it be refunded back? Would the land be reassessed for the compensation to be redone?

Everyone who received a dime has been intimidated. Even Fon Ngufor of Nkwen, Chronicle gathered does no more sleep in his palace for fear that Nkwen youths may storm and kill him only over the land meant for the industrial zone.