On the afternoon of March 2, 2022, CHRDA received with shock the disturbing images of an attack on the convoy of Mr. Abolowa Timothy, the Divisional Officer (DO) for Ekondo Titi Subdivision in Ndian Division of the Southwest Region, leaving him and four members of his entourage dead.

The four other persons who died alongside the DO in the attack include Mr Nanji Kenneth, the Mayor of Ekondo Titi Council, Hon. Ebeku Williams, Section President of the CPDM Party and Parliamentarian for Ndian Constituency, Mr. Meh Stanly, the DO’s driver, and Adjudant Akono, the DO’s security guard.

It is reported that the incident happened between Lobe Estate and Bekora-Barombi when the vehicle carrying the deceased was blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), allegedly planted by armed separatist fighters, while on its way to Bekora.

Note should be taken that the locality of Ndian, controlled by self-styled “General 10 Kobo” of the “Expendable 100,” a separatist group allegedly answerable to the Interim Government of Sako Ikome, has been at the center of high-profile attacks in Ndian Division. On July 16, 2021, six Divisional Delegates were kidnapped by this group in the locality of Masore-Balue in Ndian Division. One was killed, and the remaining five have since then disappeared in captivity.

Again on November 24, 2021, an attack occurred in GBHS Ekondo Titi where three students and a teacher were killed, with several other students injured. The incident, which involved the use of an IED, was perpetrated by unknown gunmen suspected to be separatist fighters. Following accusations from multiple sources that the attack was conducted by “General 10 Kobo and his boys," the self-styled General released a voice note message, debunking the accusations and stating that he only targets soldiers and government officials. Today, 5 government officials have been assassinated in an explosion in the same locality.

CHRDA condemns this attack and calls on the government to launch an investigation into the matter and to find a lasting solution to the crisis in order to put an end to the loss of human lives recorded in this conflict.

We also call on separatist fighters to stop all forms of attacks targeting civilians and civilian property as they constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity and violate International Humanitarian Law.