Chinese abandon work after Boko Haram attack

Sinhydro, the Chinese road construction company that got the contract to construct Waza-Dabanga road in the Far North Region, has abandoned the project after Boko Haram hit the site on May 16, killing one soldier and kidnapping ten of the Chinese workers.

Cameroonian workers working with the company were reportedly paid their last salaries last week. Awa Fonka Augustine, Far North Governor, has, however, called on the contractors to reverse the decision and continue the contract. The Chinese engineers have said that the decision to quit was that of their home government and they obey.

They are holding onto the kidnapping of their colleagues as a pushing factor which has greatly unmotivated them given that since the kidnap, no positive reaction has been made by the Cameroon government to secure their safe release.

The Chinese workers allegedly gave a deaf ear to the governor's pleading as they took off for Yaounde immediately after a meeting with him.

The Journal has gathered from yet to be confirmed sources that the Chinese engineers left Cameroon last Monday for their home country, China.

Confronted about the departure of the Chinese, the governor reportedly summoned a meeting rallying all traditional authorities of Waza instructing them to remain alert and to collaborate with security operatives should they come across any suspicious individuals.

The Chinese company started work on the Waza-Dabanga road at the beginning of 2014. They have called off the project just after work earth paving part of the contract. Local authorities say they were to begin the tarring proper in June.

It should be recalled that elements of the Nigerian Islamist militant group, Boko Haram had hit the Waza base of the Chinese company late on May 16 where they killed a soldier on guard, wounding many and kidnapping ten Chinese workers.

They also successfully carted away ten pick-up vehicles and two trucks belonging to the company.