Gov't Hunts Illegal Churches

Three of such churches have been closed down in the Yaounde One Sub-division.

In the name of God! Operate within the laws or face the wrath of the government. Each sector in the society seems to act as if in a no-man's-land. Individuals have taken the laws into their hands and do what they like in the name of God and His word. It is said that they put asunder what God has put together. If there is order, it becomes disorder to many who attend such churches. The Sub-divisional Officer for Yaounde One, Jean Paul Tsanga Foé, says these illegal churches are becoming a major source of insecurity in his jurisdiction and threaten the peace that reigns in certain families. As such, an operation has started to close down such illegal churches with deviant practices.

Over the weekend, Jean Paul Tsanga Foé closed down one of such churches called Communauté Chrétienne du Révérend Paul Nko. Two weekends back, he had closed two of such churches, La Cathédrale de la Foi of Rev Dr Dieunedort Kamdem and L'église Catholique Traditionnelle. According to the Sub-divisional Officer, the majority of these churches are operating without authorisation. Jean Paul Tsanga said although these churches have been benefitting from the State's administrative tolerance, they continue to do what they like without any intention of conforming to what the law says about the creation of churches in Cameroon.

Some of the churches are described as a nuisance to their neighbourhoods as their loud speakers and musical instruments are unbearable to the ears of their neighbours who say they can hardly sleep given that most of the churches operate at night. Information also revealed that some of the churches have created division in families not only because some parents can hardly accept the fact that their children have changed their religious denomination, but also because of some of the messages that are usually echoed from the churches. One of such messages is when, "The man of god, in a revelation says that a family member is a witch or responsible for a problem that a brethren attending the church is facing in his life." Such revelations have never been taken lightly in certain families, with some resulting to bloodshed and even death in certain families.

Jean Paul Tsanga Foé stresses that the government's decision is firm. "Clean this sector which is a serious problem in the society. Cameroon is not a State for fraudsters, but a State of Order." Jean Paul Tsanga Foé says he has just started the cleansing of the church sector. The practice seems to be spreading to other regions in the country as reports from Douala, Ebolowa and Bafoussam say illegal churches are facing rough times and told to repent with the law.