Full
night life is yet
to return to Bamenda days after the lifting of a dusk to dawn curfew ordered on
the city and the North West Region for close to a year by Governor Lele
Lafrique Tchoffo Deben Deben Adolph. With a last modification dating back to
November 2018 from 9pm to 6am, the North West region since 2017 has known
various forms of movement restrictions with varying timings. These restrictions
especially the dusk to dawn has for close to a year become part and parcel of
everyone living in the region.
Friday June
14, the Governor decided to lift the curfew with a regional order “lifting the
restriction of movements of persons and property within the North West Region.”
Though with no expiration date and no indication of “till further notice” as it
is often the case, many have received the decisions with different
interpretation.
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Picture at 10pm in a popular spot in
Bamenda
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“Personally
I am happy he has lifted the curfew. I don’t know what has changed from when
the curfew was forced on us but I think it is a good thing. I hope that this
has come to stay because I will not be surprised if I wake up tomorrow and hear
that another curfew has been announced.” Laila Lawrence a trader in Bamenda
chosen from several other similar opinions shared with this reporter.
Like another
group of persons, Fawah Agather a journalist in Bamenda says “I am actually
elated with the lifting of the curfew. First it is going to give a sense of
security at this moment because we will be able to get more music, more sounds
in the evening and indication that people are up and about and also it will
help me in doing my work because I may not have to rush home before 6oclock. It
is a good initiative and I think the governor will also take this time to known
the effects of the curfew if actually it served its purpose.”
As the
opinions vary so too are the actions. Like has been the case on Friday June 14
when the curfew was lifted, travel agencies still left town by 7-730pm and this
has not changed till date. Taxis are non-existent on the streets after 8pm and
just a few commercial bikes can be seen circulation.
“I cannot
take any risk to be out brother after 8pm in this town. I speak to you now
(7:30am) after working for just about 45mins meaning I don’t only fear late
nights here now I also fear coming out very early. I use to begin work at 5am
in this town but now I cannot come out if it is not 6:30 and sometimes 7am and
I will go on like that till I am sure of this town.” Suh Gideon a Taxi driver
said.
To owners of
drinking spots and other night businesses their problem is beyond just
respecting the lifting. “Yesterday (Saturday a day after the) I tried to stay
open and see but there was nobody even passing on the road talk less of
entering my bar. By 8pm a few people who were drinking had gone away and I
could not stay open. Will I be selling to myself? George Chebue a bar owner
thundered to this reporter adding “if we don’t solve the problem life can never
return to normalcy here. Many people carry guns here now and if they come out
and shot everywhere will close meaning even without the curfew people still do
not feel safe drinking and staying out for long. Even if you stay on, people
can just work in here with guns and surround you. So I think let government
solve the problem”
Some big
spots in the city have started making gains from the lifted curfew with full blown
activities and a huge crowd answering present daily. Far after 9pm, places like
mile two Nkwen, close to city chemist into the commercial avenue, Foncha
junction and others have started night activities.
Movement
restrictions started in the North West Region as part of government’s plan to
maintain order after popular public demonstrations turned deadly in 2017.
North West
Governor lefts the curfew at the time right groups are putting the number of
deaths at close to 2000 with an arithmetic increase of armed groups with
sporadic attack on military settlements almost on daily bases. The torching of houses and destruction of
property have displaced many resulting in a serious humanitarian crisis.
Humanitarian groups put those in need at over four million including refugees
and internally displaced persons.
Lifting of
the curfew has been described by observers as solving a small effect of the
armed conflict which may trigger economic activities but maintain that if the
cause of the conflict is not handled, there will be no need for night life
since the guns will continue to smoke, people killed, houses being torched,
property destroyed and many displaced.