Nomen Estates Land Grab Saga : Encroachers Shoot Administrator

On 19 January 2019, six assailants emerged from their hiding under cocoa and coffee trees on the Nomen Estates and shot Nomen George Tchaptchet, the administrator of the estate, on the hip region with a locally made gun.

Pandemonium ensued as lawyers for the administrator struggled to prevent the assailants from loading their lone gun to further shoot their target.

Nomen George Tchaptchet returned from England in 2015, after 23 years, to investigate and prevent encroachers from further destroying cocoa and coffee planted by his late father in 1968. When he arrived Buea in South Western Cameroons, encroachers had destroyed 98 percent of the 40 hectares cocoa and coffee farm. Scores of houses had been built on the land.

After investigations and ascertaining that the land belonged to Felix Nomen Tokam, a dozen suits were filed in the courts of Fako, holding in Buea against encroachers for trespass and destruction.

While the slow arms of a lethargic justice system in the region fondled with arguments on the land grab saga, STATE prosecution and the presiding magistrate proposed and out of court settlement at the behest of the local regent chief Ewule Emmanuel.

Ewule Emmanuel of Lower Bolifamba had declared that his village had no problem with George Nomen, whose father planted the cocoa and coffee. Ewule Emmanuel‘s application for amicable settlement was granted.

As Nomen George Tchaptchet and his team arrived at the farm to discuss matters in relation to the estate and also that of the amicable settlement, one of the encroachers, Josephine Tatang, one of his son accompanied by six unknown men emerged from under the cover of some remaining cocoa and coffee trees.

Her son pointed at Nomen George Tchaptchet saying, “It is that red man.” Meaning NOMEN George Tchaptchet who was of a very fair colour.

The assailants ordered Nomen George Tchaptchet to follow them or they would shoot. ”If you do not follow us, we would shoot.” They ordered.

“If you must kill me, do it here on my father's farm.” NOMEN George Tchaptchet replied.

The person carrying the gun moved forward and attempted grabbing Nomen. A struggle ensued and the assailant pulled his trigger. Three pellets were lodged in Nomen’s hip. The fighting now involved people on Nomen’s team versus the assailants. NOMEN George Tchaptchet managed to BROKE free and ran to the highway, 50 metres away. He boarded a taxi and they sped off to the gendarmerie station.

Investigations commenced with the arrests of Tatang Josephine and two others. The real assailants have never been apprehended. Tatang Josephine confessed that it was Nkwenta Jacob who paid money to the assailants to kill Nomen George Tchaptchet.

After weeks in detention, the accused were released on bail after paying huge sums of money to the Military, contrary to the law on terrorism.

In fright, Nomen George Tchaptchet fled into hiding in Yaounde for fear of his life. He was also scared of hate speech from the locals who called for the expulsion of the Bamilike.

The Anglophone Crisis pitting Cameroun government troops to Ambazonian independence restoration forces has provided a dangerous environment for the flourishing of pockets of armed groups.

Some of these groups are involved in petty crimes and settling of scores.

Investigators at the military tribunal in Buea have emboldened the criminals as money has exchanged hands for the freedom of the criminals. Many investigation reports have disappeared on the desks of biased, corrupt and interested military investigators. While the matter is pending in the Military Tribunal awaiting the apprehension of Nkwenta Jacob, on the run, the Nomen Estate land grab saga continues. We will look at the genesis, phases and intrigues of this saga in the next days.

Christopher FON ACHOBANG * Is an environmental and social justice campaigner who reports on many blogs and newspapers.