Garoua City Council demolishes trespassers' buildings

Authorities of Baptist Secondary School, BSS Djamboutou, Garoua, which belongs to the Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC, can now heave a sigh of relief following the demolition of illegal structures on its land by the Garoua City Council. The buildings, foundations and walls, were erected by people to whom plots of land were illegally sold.

Speaking to Cameroon Tribune in Garoua recently, Tanyi Benson Eyong, the Principal of BSS Garoua, said a certain Abdoulahi Djaorou Baba divided up the land allocated to the school by the City Council and then sold it to several individuals.

The encroachment took place on more than four of the six-hectare land. Even though the school earlier brought in officials from the Benoué Divisional Delegation of State Property, Land and Surveys to mark out the land, trespassing began about one and half years ago when Djaorou reportedly brought in thugs to uproot the pillars.

In all, seven homes and many foundations were demolished on CBC land, including walled fences; with people already living in three of the demolished homes, Tanyi Benson Eyong explained. Similarly, many other structures on illegally-acquired nearby State land were also demolished by the City Council on the same occasion.

However, one home was left standing on BSS land because the owner claims to possess a title deed, the Principal said. Meanwhile, the matter is also in court. Tanyi Benson Eyong said plans for putting the land to use include the setting up of a Baptist Hospital, nursery/primary school, boarding facilities for BSS and residential homes for college staff.

The school on several occasions reported the land grab to the Divisional Officer for Garoua I Subdivision and the Senior Divisional Officer for Benoué. The Cameroon Baptist Convention also took the matter to the North Administrative Court about five months ago; though it is yet to be heard.

Following the demolition, other trespassers who were about to begin constructing their own homes have been rushing to collect their blocks and sand, the Principal of Baptist Secondary School, Djamboutou, Garoua, explained.

On the other hand, those whose projects were at the initial level have been digging up and carrying away their foundation blocks. "We intend to go on with the development of the land as planned. We were simply waiting for this opportunity to begin work. If we leave the land empty for long, some people might again encroach on it," concluded Tanyi Benson Eyong.