Irate Wovia youths in front of their “contraband warehouse” shortly after showdown with security forces

Customs officers seen here with the youths at the contraband warehouse

Cameroon Journal, Limbe – A mixed security squad opened fire in Wovia, outskirts of Limbe, Southwest Region, on Tuesday, December 22 while on a contraband raid. The raid met with stiff resistance from the youth of the village leading to a four-hour standoff.

The security team was made up of gendarmes, policemen, soldiers and customs officers. The security officers were armed with automatic rifles, baton sticks and anti-riot paraphernalia.

They stormed the environs of Bota wharf before proceeding to Wovia at 6am apparently acting on a tip-off. Transported in as many as five security trucks, the officers flooded Wovia immediately they got information that cough syrups, fuel and non-biodegradable plastics had been smuggled in.

“We are told by a security insider that they were informed of our activities late last night. He told us to be prepared because they will be here in the morning. That is why before they came, we had transported some of our goods to far-off locations,” one of the youths who chose not to be named told The Cameroon Journal.

“These guys came to look for Christmas money. They initially wanted to use force and we told them that we are not afraid of those guns and uniforms. They shot some bullets into the air to scare us, but we were not moved. After making away with some empty fuel containers, the officers who were left at the packing store asked for bribe and we gave them FCFA 300,000. That is why they only collected 25 empty fuel containers and two cartoons of plastics so that they will show their hierarchy that they actually worked.” One of the gang members said. 

One Mola George Luma Ekema, who introduced himself to us as the Youth President for Wovia, said smuggling is the mainstay of the people of Wovia.

“What government calls smuggling is to us our source of livelihood. We grow and die in this business. We know no other business. We struggle to enter the army and the public service to no avail. Government has abandoned us without jobs. Smuggling is part of us and we cannot do without,” he said.

“The rate of unemployment in Cameroon is alarming and the Head of State asked us the youths to be creative. We think that we are gainfully employed in this sector. We only smuggle fuel and nothing else. We have the certificates, but don’t have jobs. SONARA is our neighbour but Wovia people are not employed there. Government should review its employment policy,” Luma charged.



As The Journal left the scene after the departure of the security forces, military trucks were seen carrying some of the contraband plastics and cough syrups to an unknown destination, apparently to be sold.

Contraband raids in the Wovia area have become a regular feature in the daily lives of the population.

Custom officials have asked that Government provide the Department in Limbe with necessary equipment to be able to wage a fierce war against the smuggling of illicit goods.

According to them, the activities of the Customs Department in Limbe to combat the importation of contraband goods and tax evasion, among other things, have, on several occasions, been hampered by lack of equipment and the over-reliance on the assistance of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR, and other military units, which, he said, are often engaged in other State duties. They added that inhabitants of Wovia and Bota have adopted aggressive attitudes towards Customs officials as these two localities are gateways for smuggling contraband into the country.

 





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