By Etienne Nfor Liboh
On February 13, 2026, a video circulated widely on social media denouncing and purportedly dethroning Senator Fon Chafah Isaac as the traditional ruler of Bangolan village in Babessi Subdivision, Ngoketunjia Division of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. He was accused of abandoning the village for over 10 years and of desecrating the people’s culture by destroying sacred traditional sites alongside a group of individuals claiming to be men of God.
In the viral footage, the kingmakers and members of the Ngumba stated that they were in the process of enthroning a new Fon to lead Bangolan village. They also warned Senator Fon Chafah Isaac not to set foot in the village again.
However, the administration, through the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Ngoketunjia Division, Handerson Duetong Kongeh, in press release No. 023 dated 14 February 2026, made it abundantly clear that “the village head of a paramount chiefdom, once designated by the traditional kingmakers, presented to the public, acknowledged by the subjects of the village and recognized or homologated by the administration, is enthroned for life and nothing less.”
The SDO noted that Cameroon is a state governed by the rule of law and stressed that “a group of miscreants cannot be allowed to hold the subjects of an entire village and its traditional institutions hostage.” He further assured that the administration would leave no stone unturned in its quest to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. He warned that “any individual or group found fraternising or collaborating with the dissident gang does so at their own risk and peril and shall be prosecuted in accordance with the rules and regulations in force.”
The ongoing Anglophone crisis has forced many traditional rulers out of their fondoms. However, some observers hold the view that those who flee are often those involved in state politics, which they argue is inappropriate for traditional rulers, as it may compromise their neutrality in governing their people.
