Tchiroma thanks "loyalist army" for protection

Issa Tchiroma Bakary had already been removed and "escorted to a safe location", before state defence and security forces surrounded his residence in a way that looked like an undeclared house arrest.

"A leader does not offer himself to be arrested," a source said in a deep background briefing in Garoua.

"He has to be at a safe and secure location to coordinate the movement for the restoration of the people's victory, stolen in favour of Paul Biya," the source went on.

"Without the leader, protests can go out of hand. People are deeply angry. They are expressing themselves. They can go overboard. The leader has to be at a safe and secure place to coordinate and guide them."

The source added: "Imagine a scenario where President Tchiroma is captured. Can you imagine how that would incense the population and what could be the outcome?"

Tchiroma was taken out of his Marouare residence in Garoua on the night of 28-29 October. A 31 October post on his "Tchiroma 2025" Facebook account reads, "I thank the loyalist army, which has shown its patriotism by escorting me to a safe location and is currently ensuring my protection."

Midmorning on 29 October, gendarmes stormed Tchiroma's quarters. Concordant testimonies by his vanguards outside his compound and private security personnel guarding other compounds in the neighbourhood confirmed there were gunshots around Tchiroma's compound that morning. No one was hurt.

That attack last week Wednesday, came the day after the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, in a press briefing in Yaounde, warned that Tchiroma would be dealt with for inciting "post-election violence".

On 30 October, soldiers in fours, fives and sixes in combat attire and carrying guns were seen jumping off military vehicles at different parts of the Marouare residential quarters where Tchiroma lives. It looked like a raid. From either side, their manoeuvres pointed in the direction of Tchiroma's neighbourhood. It is not certain what their mission was.

On Friday and Saturday, the soldiers set up makeshift sentry posts within 50 metres of Tchiroma's residence on all sides. That was seen as a way of restricting his move, a kind of informal house arrest.

It was the first time soldiers, described as "third degree force" used mainly for serious combat operations beyond the competence of police (first degree) and the gendarmes (second degree) were seen in the neighbourhood since the election day and post-election tensions gripped Garoua.

Prior to that day, only police personnel were seen at various junctions. They generally did not restrict movement around Marouare. But from mid last week to the weekend, especially on 30 October, they prohibited access to motorbikes, vehicles and even pedestrians who a'dis not prove they were resident in the neighbourhood.

On 27 October, the day results of the presidential election was proclaimed, snipers shot two of Tchiroma's vanguards from the balcony of the nearby residence of Yerima Dewa, former FSNC comrade who resigned from FSNC after Tchiroma declared his intention to run for president. One of those shot died on the spot.

This is not the first time Tchiroma is taken away from perceived danger. On 12 October, election day, his vehicle was intercepted by state security forces. His mob of supporters, believing the forces meant to arrest him, found a way of snatching him away.

That day, a voice in a video circulating on social media said "the population had rescued Tchiroma from abduction by the forces of law and order and moved him to a secure place."

After that incident, scores of youths volunteered to provide security around his compoound. Some observers described them as a human shield who would have to be killed in numbers in case of an attempt to arrest or abduct Tchiroma.

BY FRANKLIN SONE BAYEN

Investigative Journalist on special assignment in Garoua

The author, Franklin Sone Bayen is a freelance journalist. He can be reached at +237 657969090 or sonebayen@gmail.com

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FNSC leader, Issa Tchiroma Bakary