In a fax message dated September 26, Minister of Territorial Administration (Minat) Paul Atanga Nji instructed the ten regional governors to send him a report of the ransom kidnapping cases that occurred in their respective regions between October 20, 2022, and October 22, 2023. The aim is to include the ransom kidnapping issue on the agenda of the next governors’ summit to be held in October 2023.  

The reports to be sent by governors must also include the cases where hostages were freed by Defense and Security Forces and cases where families settled with hostage-takers in each division.  The presentation must also indicate "the cases referred to the courts and the outcome of the proceedings," the message indicates.  

Paul Atanga Nji instructs the governors to suggest strong solutions to end this organized banditry, which extends beyond governors’ respective command units and sometimes involves parties in neighboring countries.

For several years now, Cameroon has been confronted with the phenomenon of hostage-taking in border regions. This phenomenon continues and is becoming more acute as a result of socio-political instability in these countries. The Far North, North, Adamaoua, and East are the regions most affected. This is forcing the army to multiply its outposts near the borders.

In recent years, however, there have been cases of hostage-taking in urban centers in the interior of the country. This is why the instruction was given to all the governors of the 10 regions, not those of the regions most affected. 

L.A.