The Minister of Territorial Administration – MINAT, Paul Atanga Nji, presided over a high-level security meeting of the Top Command on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Governor’s Office conference hall in Bamenda.
Convened under the very high instructions of President Paul Biya, the gathering brought together North-West Governor Adolphe Lele L’afrique, administrative and judicial authorities, alongside senior military, police, and gendarmerie commanders. Marking the first MINAT-led security summit in the region following the October 12, 2025 presidential election, the meeting served as a tangible indicator of an improving security climate in the North-West.
Delivering greetings on behalf of the Head of State, Minister Atanga Nji extended commendations to regional administrative and defense leadership for their professionalism in handling two landmark events.
He praised the successful execution of the 2025 presidential poll across all 7 divisions and 34 subdivisions, noting that the region recorded the second-highest vote tally for President Biya nationwide. Additionally, he commended the seamless organization surrounding the historic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Bamenda, where roughly 400,000 disciplined citizens gathered to welcome the Pontiff.
While observing a noticeable decline in assaults, armed violence, and kidnappings for ransom, the Minister emphasized that security personnel must not lower their guard. He denounced the actions of post-election agitators whom he characterized as bad losers and fugitives and warned that perpetrators of post-ballot violence remain firmly in the sights of the administration.
Furthermore, Atanga Nji called for continued vigilance, targeted intelligence sharing, and active cooperation among administrative bodies, security forces, and the local population to stamp out residual pockets of terrorism.
A prominent focus of the deliberations was the rising concern over commercial motorcycle operators (bendskin riders). The Minister highlighted the involvement of certain riders in criminal activities, ranging from bag-snatching and fatal road accidents to armed robbery and targeted assassinations. Characterizing rogue operators as a major vector for insecurity, Atanga Nji announced an upcoming dedicated session with motorcycle unions to review the commitments made in their 2023 social contract and enforce stricter compliance across the region.
The conclave also highlighted the growing threat of youth substance abuse and narcotics trafficking. Minister Atanga Nji urged security commanders to intensify operations against the illicit distribution of cannabis, cocaine, and other dangerous substances, particularly around secondary schools and university campuses.
Referencing a past public destruction of confiscated cocaine valued at FCFA 55 billion, he reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance against drug syndicates targeting young people.
In his concluding remarks, the Minister renewed the State’s appeal to remaining armed groups in the bushes to surrender their weapons and reintegrate into society through the Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration – DDR centers. He urged parents, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to actively persuade lingering youth to abandon violence, emphasizing that family intervention is essential for long-term reconciliation and peace.
The security gathering concluded with a unified call for structured collaboration among administrative officials, traditional authorities, and citizens to protect the peace gains achieved in the North-West Region. Minister Atanga Nji reiterated that maintaining order requires steady discipline, community partnership, and continuous vigilance from every citizen.
