Gabsa Sixtus, NW Regional Coordinator
The North West Regional coordinator of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration centre, Gabsa Sixtus has noted that despite social media reports, the centre is running well
"The centre is fairing well. The children are busy, focused and carrying out their usual activities"
The public outing of the North West Regional coordinator comes a day after ex fighters of the Buea disarmament centre went on a rampage, denouncing poor treatment and non availability of basic needs
Sixtus Gabsa says these grievances are specific and not general to DDR Centres
"The government provides adequate resources to run the DDR centres. We provide security, three square meals a day and also provide medical assistance for both old and new ex fighters"
On the prowess of the centre, the Regional coordinator noted that 16 ex fighters have been trained in driving while awaiting their drivers licenses while others who came with technical knowledge have been subcontracted to manage the poultry, piggery and help in the construction of the centre
Other buildings under construction
When quizzed as to why the centre is yet to effectively reintegrate ex fighters into the society, the Coordinator said they need to be more prepared to face the society. To know how to operate and sustain their own businesses, "The reintegration process is not slow but that we want to sufficiently equip the ex fighters before sending them back into the society"
Beatrice the wife to an ex fighter who served as an informant back in the bush noted that the centre "has greatly improved and a lot of activities have come into the centre since March 2020 that I joined"
Bamenda DDR Centre
The ex fighters are trained in hair dressing, computer awareness, tailoring and agriculture
The Bamenda DDR centre has this far had 250 ex fighters with 32 gainfully employed in a state corporation. Of the 194 left, 27 are women and 29 children with 20 new ex fighter joining the centre in January 2021
The centre has recorded four deliveries and four surgical operations since it's creation on November 30th 2018 by the President of the Republic
Construction works are on going at the Bamenda airport for a befitting DDR centre that can host at least 1000 ex fighters
By
Ndi Tsembom Elvis
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