John Fru Ndi has been kidnapped twice during the Anglophone Crisis. The first incident was a brief and bloodless yet significant event in the ongoing war. Fru Ndi, who is the chairperson of Cameroon's largest opposition party, the SDF , was held by Ambazonian separatist fighters before being released later on the same day. The second incident was more dramatic, with gunmen breaking into his home, shooting his bodyguard in the leg [2] and subjecting Fru Ndi to a rough treatment.
Due to the security situation in the area, the governor of the Northwest Region offered Fru Ndi a military escort to protect against any potential separatist attacks. Fru Ndi declined, saying that the appearance of a military convoy would only serve to provoke an attack. Local separatist militias had announced that they would not interfere with the funeral, provided that no Francophone Cameroonians participated. According to Fru Ndi, the encounter began when gunmen approached his funeral convoy in Wainana, Bui Division.
They said they wanted to talk with Fru Ndi, and that the convoy should go on without him. He replied that he had wanted to talk to them, but protested on the circumstances. The gunmen said that it would not take long, and Fru Ndi agreed to accompany them to a nearby school.
Four of his aides came with him as the gunmen drove off. However, when the gunmen drove off to a valley, it became clear to Fru Ndi that he had actually been abducted.
Fru Ndi replied that he would not, stating that it would be counterproductive to boycott the only forum where they could talk to President Biya. After Fru Ndi had refused to relent multiple times, the gunmen gave up and released him and his four aides after almost seven hours.
