Over a hundred families in the Mile Four – Bonadikombo community of Limbe, South West Region, are facing imminent eviction following a landmark Supreme Court decision that awards a vast tract of inhabited land to a single individual.
On October 12, 2026, distressed residents, some of whom have lived and built permanent homes on the land for over 25 years, marched to the palace of the local traditional ruler with peace plants in their hands to seek urgent administrative intervention.
Affected neighborhoods spanning Quarter 6, 7, 8, 9 (Promise Land), 14, and surrounding areas now face the alarming prospect of mass displacement if government authorities do not step in.
The legal dispute traces its origins back to 1955, when late landholder John Ngale leased property in Mile Four to Andreas Njanjo for a 30-year period. Following Ngale’s death in 1973, Namondo Alice Ekema Wilson was appointed Administrator of the estate in 1978.
Upon the expiration of the leasehold in 1985, Namondo sought repossession from Andreas Njanjo’s son, Blasius Njanjo, who refused to relinquish control. In 2006, Namondo initiated a lawsuit at the High Court in Buea, which ruled in his favor by default in September 2007 after Njanjo repeatedly failed to appear.
Unsatisfied with the High Court verdict, Blasius Njanjo appealed to the South West Court of Appeal, which dismissed his challenge. In 2011, Njanjo petitioned the Supreme Court in Yaounde, commencing a prolonged legal impasse that lasted twelve years before the Common Law Bench issued a final decision.
On April 6, 2023, Supreme Court Justice Wanki Richard dismissed Njanjo’s appeal on procedural grounds under Article 35(1) of the governing judicial code. The execution of this decision in late 2026 has caught long-term occupants off guard, as they were not direct parties to the underlying lawsuit.
Among those impacted by the ruling is renowned Cameroonian mathematician, musician, and retired teacher Akwa Usman, alongside legal practitioners and hundreds of local residents. Usman explained that he purchased his land parcel in 1992 and subsequently secured a formal land certificate, maintaining that residents have never recognized Namondo Alice as their landlord.
Over the past fortnight, numerous homeowners have been served official summonses to report to the Investigation Office of the Gendarmerie Legion in Buea, intensifying anxiety across the community.
Seeking protection and guidance, the affected residents convened at the palace of HRH Chief David Nanyowe, the traditional custodian of Mile Four lands. Chief Nanyowe urged the community to remain calm, honour the legal summons, and immediately retain joint legal counsel to defend their rights.
Meanwhile, residents have issued a passionate appeal to the Divisional Officer – DO of Limbe I, Moni Innocent Nanje, calling on administrative authorities to mediate the dispute and review the broader social ramifications of enforcing the judicial order.
This latest development comes as a severe blow to a population that recently weathered a multi-month electricity crisis before public interventions restored utility services to the municipality. Community leaders emphasize that evicting hundreds of established households would trigger a humanitarian and socio-economic catastrophe in Limbe.
As legal representatives prepare to engage with law enforcement officials in Buea, the community continues to advocate for a balanced solution that respects long-term land occupation rights while upholding statutory law.
