- Complainants Accuse So-called “Bayelsa Boys” Of Beating Civilians, Demanding IDs, Touting “Licence To Kill”
- PAMOL GM Declines To Address Allegations, Says Only State Authorities Can Respond To Security Matters
By Andrew Nsoseka
Residents of Ndian Division in Cameroon’s Southwest Region have accused heavily armed security operatives, whom they describe as foreign mercenaries hired to protect PAMOL Plantations Plc, of assaulting civilians, intimidating farmers and operating with impunity in communities surrounding the company’s plantations.
The allegations follow the circulation of photographs showing injuries reportedly sustained by a Bekora resident, Ekoko Bernard, who locals claim was severely beaten by the armed men who were about to kill him before an intervention.
A resident whose name we have withheld for his safety, alleged that Bernard, a cocoa farmer and cocoa buyer, was attacked recently on a Saturday after being wrongly accused of belonging to a separatist armed group.
“He is just an ordinary civilian,” the resident said. “He has never been involved with the Amba fighters. He manages the family cocoa farm left by his father, yet these men seized him, accused him of being an Amba and beat him mercilessly.”
According to the witness, Bernard would likely have suffered even more serious injuries had another cocoa buyer not arrived and intervened.
The resident revealed that the armed men, locally known as the “Bayelsa Boys”, are stationed at PAMOL’s Lifinga camp under the guise of providing plantation security but have instead become a source of fear for surrounding communities.
“We first suffered at the hands of the Amba fighters. Now we are suffering at the hands of the Bayelsa Boys,” the resident regretted. “The frightening thing is that they claim the government has given them the power to kill.”
The complainant further alleged that the armed men routinely stop civilians travelling to their farms, demanding identity cards despite having no recognised law enforcement powers.
“I was going to my farm when they stopped me and demanded my identity card,” the resident said. “They are foreigners asking Cameroonians for identification. They are not soldiers or police officers. They work for PAMOL, not for the government.”
The resident also questioned why the military, which has a camp in Lifinga, has allegedly failed to intervene.
“We have soldiers here, but they appear powerless. These armed men carry guns and our people are afraid of them. This situation has been going on since last year,” the source said.
The witness further alleged that the armed men challenged anyone who questioned their actions, claiming that they have authority over the area.
“They nearly killed Bernard. It was only after another cocoa buyer intervened that they released him. We are now asking ourselves where this country is heading.”
The resident further claimed that the armed men were recruited from neighbouring Nigeria to provide security for PAMOL plantations, even when they are locals in Ndian who could be hired for the very tasks.
PAMOL Declines to Respond
When contacted, the General Manager of PAMOL Plantations Plc, Mbile Tapea Solomon, declined to address the specific allegations.
In a written response, he said:
“With all due respect to your duty to inform the public, I believe there are state authorities within our areas of operation.
“Wouldn’t it then be wise that you address yourself to these authorities who reserve the right to answer questions about security issues and who hold the obligation to provide security to the community, including PAMOL Plantations Plc?”
The General Manager neither confirmed nor denied the allegations regarding the identity, recruitment or conduct of the armed men referred to by residents as the “Bayelsa Boys”.
We were unable to obtain comments from the administrative authorities or security services before publication.
