The civil administrator was speaking Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at the Kumba ceremonial ground shortly after a rather short-lived  parade to commemorate the 133rd International Labour Day.
Ntou’ou Ndong told media men and women that some separatist fighters in Mbonge Subdivision had surrendered and had  been received.

“Let me  share it with you… last week I received some of them coming from Mbonge Subdivision… who surrendered. They came and said Mr. SDO we are tired , we cannot continue to fight… It is time for us... they said if the state can help us , I said no problem,” Ntou’ou Ndong is quoted as saying.

To others still hesitating to drop down their weapons as told by the President of the Republic Paul Biya,  they were urged to do so without any further delay.

“Let me also add that, it is time for them to surrender… to surrender, the state  is available to work with them… we know that they are Cameroonians and they have made mistakes  and it is time for them to come back and join their normal activities. The Head of State instructed us to follow this particular instruction," the Senior Civil Administrator said.

President Biya, in an inauguration speech after elections in October 2018 that extended his 36-year-old rule, called on separatists to lay down their arms or face the full force of the law.

"They need to know that they will face the rigor of the law and the determination of our defense and security forces," Biya said before Parliament that was sitting in congress. "I appeal to them to lay down their arms."

Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji and his lieutenants - civil administrators- have since re-echoed the presidential call.

A Disamarment, Demobilisation and Reintegration Committee has since been created to accommodate those leaving the bushes. Government says some of the fighters have surrendered and are being taken care of.

The separatists have imposed curfews and closed schools as part of their rebellion against the French-speaking government, which they say has marginalized the Anglophone minority.

The 2019 Labour Day commemorative parades took place in the restive regions within the backdrop of a separatist-imposed lockdown.

A cross section of the population however conquered fear to participate in the May 1 fete.

Meme SDO, Ntou’ou Ndong  reserved warm words for those who turned up at the Kumba ceremonial ground.

He claimed knowledge of the security challenges and said the defense and security forces are working towards a return to normalcy and at the same time securing persons and their properties.