BY LUCY LIMA
The government of Cameroon is still finding it difficult to end the current impasse rocking the North West and South West Regions.
After the Major National Dialogue that took place in Yaounde from September 30, to October 4, 2019 to resolve the Anglophone crisis that has been rocking the North West and South West Regions for over seven years and counting, things seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Armed conflict between the separatist fighters and the defence forces still rages on with multiple deaths still recorded on both sides. Houses have been razed to the ground, villages burnt down with impunity and Internal Displaced Persons, IDP’s, on the increase as the government is sparing no effort in tracking down those it considers “agents of destruction”.
Despite repeated calls for all protagonists to embrace peace for a better and new Cameroon, the country, which was once internationally praised as one of the most peaceful in the world, is now struggling to cope with untold causalities from what many qualify as an unrelenting and insidious conflict.
Reports from across the restive North West and South West Regions say more and more businessmen within these crisis-stricken Anglophone Regions have resorted to going underground after surviving arrest, torture, harsh detention conditions from the military. Thet are said to be going underground for fear of military reprisals.
THE SUN gathered that officers of security and defense forces usually fabricate false allegations against businessmen that they are not only siding with separatist fighters but supporting their activities.
It should be noted that Anglophone civilians arrested in connection are tortured, detained under inhumane and degrading conditions for several weeks. While some have been allegedly killed in detention, others have never been seen as their whereabouts remains cloudy.
It is against this backdrop that THE SUN gathered that the whereabouts of Anthony Geh Chu, a popular businessman remains unclear since he miraculously escaped from detention in Yaounde sometimes in February 2025. Reports say Anthony Geh Chu, who fled military persecution from his home village to Yaounde, was unfortunately arrested again, tortured and detained before he miraculously escaped from detention.
Family sources disclosed that Geh was operating his provision and construction materials store in his native Esu village, Menchum Division of the North West Region, without hitches until the armed conflict escalated and he relocated to Yaounde.
According to his elder sister, Adella Zuh Chu, Geh’s ordeals with the military started when the government, through the Minister of Territorial Administration, issued an order in 2020 prohibiting the sales of machetes and iron rods without authorisation from the competent authorities. She said the military took advantage of this and in September 2024 arrested, tortured and detained Geh on allegations that he was siding with separatist fighters by selling them food items and iron rods.
Reports say following the release of Geh with strict instructions for him to appear before the military court, the military raided their residence in Esu in search of him and this caused to him escape to Yaounde.
Geh’s mother, Emilia Wai, is reported to have died and was buried without him seeing her corpse. According to his elder sister, Adella Zuh Chu, their mother died of shock when she heard that her son, the only breadwinner of the family, was in the searchlight of the military.
Family sources say despite the fact that Geh’s whereabouts still remains uncertain after he went underground, the military keeps making impromptu checks around their neighbourhood in search of him as he has been declared wanted.
Anglophone civilians and businessmen in the likes of Geh, alleged to be siding with separatist fighters, have been considered as dangerous and threats to the public and declared wanted. The population has equally been urged to be vigilant and report to suspects to the closest gendarmerie brigade or police station.
Security and defense forces are said to have established a warrant of arrest against Geh for allegedly siding with and supporting separatist activities.
According to Cameroon’s Penal Code if Anthony Geh Chu is arrested, he will face charges of acts of insurrection, hostility against the state, and failure to report, for which jail sentences include life imprisonment.
