Cameroon-Bamenda; As rubbery and kidnappings increase, many opt for cashless transactions in restive NW

By Bakah Derick in Bamenda 

The North West region of Cameroon in the last two years and counting has witnessed a geometric increase in the rate of Rubbery and kidnappings inspired by the crisis that has degenerated into an armed conflict with non-state armed actors kidnapping those they consider connected to the government or sympathize with the government.  

Others are kidnap for ransom while others are ambushed making movements with cash a daring venture.  

As days went on people disappeared and appeared in official detention centers in what some civil society organizations described as kidnapped or abduction but government maintained it they were arrested for being part of or promoting hostilities or rebellion against the state. 

As days went by, the economic face of the arrest, kidnap or abduction was unveiled. It started with those who were in official detention facilities paying huge sums to be freed then moved to armed groups who needed funding for their feeding or weapons. 

“We have gone through hell in this region. When this crisis just people were arrested randomly and they paid huge amount of monies to be freed without any court appearance. Many paid between 200.000 FRS to even 1Million. It was such a source of income to many people from the smallest security facility to the biggest. While we still struggling to battle with that armed groups started kidnapping people bushes for different reasons and the end point was money payments.” Nkwenti Francis civil society actor notes. 

Today, kidnapping or rubbing is the other of the day with the helpless population forced to stay mute for fear of the unknown. “When I was kidnapped, I was blindfolded and I passed many places where I heard people talking and I am sure they saw me but no one cared they went about their activities. They day they released me it was the same thing when they came a kept me in a population junction in Bamenda. When they removed the blindfold, I noticed that no one cared as the people went away carrying their guns like a normal issue.” A freed kidnap victim narrates experience. 

As to what happened to his money he adds “they searched my pockets like armed robbers and took away everything I had and my family still had to raise money and pay before I was release. Since then I don’t move with cash again because even when they kidnap you and collect what you have it will not be considered when calculating your ransom.” 

This kidnap victim is not the only one who has resulted to cashless financial transactions for fear of losing money to others. I work with communities and with lots of supports staff who I pay. I cannot take the risk of carrying huge sums of money on me with the prevailing circumstances for fear of the unknown. I prefer to do mobile money transactions since many financial institutions have closed in many areas and then when I travel to meet them I go with vouchers for them to sign.” Lola Paprika senior programme manager with a community focused NGO in Cameroon tells me. 

As to what he fears moving with money he adds “You kidnappings re a regular thing here now and you know what will happen if they kidnap you and see you with huge sums of money, they will obviously collect. I have challenges because I have to use all mobile money service providers since all networks don’t cover everywhere. You have like Benakuma where people have to move distances to have access to a particular network. In other areas people have to walk for two hours to access mobile money services. It is challenging but I can tell you we have to measure the lesser evil. I think using mobile money services is the lesser evil right than carrying cash on u as you move round.” 

With every family having access to a mobile phone these days, responding to needs via this tool in worsening humanitarian crises conditions stands out though the lack of knowledge on mobile money financial operations, lack of network and multiplicity of service providers and high rates still pose a major challenge to users.