Bangolan chieftaincy crisis: Court terminates case

Prolonged chieftaincy crisis in Bangolan has today been discontinued by the court of the First Instance in Ndop. According to the court on June 9, 2016, both parties requested for the problem to be discontinued and suspended. Both parties will now have to sit down and chat a way forward.

It should be recalled that the chieftaincy crisis started in Bangolan when some villagers allegedly dethroned their traditional ruler, Fon Chafah XI in mid-February 2016 and enthroned another Fon. This, administratively was not accepted, and it went against the will of the alleged perpetrators.

Things became worst when an administrative team to broker peace in the village was intercepted and properties looted. Gun shots were reportedly exchanged on March 19 “when angry villagers besieged the palace demanding the Fon to leave”. Eye witnesses recounted that five people sustained bullet wounds with no death reported.

Fon. Chaffah XI was accused by his villagers for “embracing western religion and giving his life to Christ”. They also complained of him reportedly setting on fire some artifacts, antiquities amongst others, which they said were the symbol of Bangolan tradition.

The angry locals staged a sit-in protest at the North West Governor’s office on February 24, 2016, and were instead told to return to the SDO for Ngoketunjia. The angry locals also demanded an end to arrests and torture from soldiers deployed to the area.

The English man says all is well that ends well, Bangolan people now have to solve their problems as the court has discontinued the case advising both parties to meet the administration.

The court ruling was welcomed by the villagers who started shouting and dancing right in front of the court.