Lekeaka Oliver aka Field Marshal, leader of the Lebialem-based “Red Dragons” armed group fighting for the independence of a country they call Ambazonia, has released a new audio daring Cameroon’s Security and Defence Forces. The audio believed to have been recorded on April 30, 2019 warns against Labour Day and National Day celebrations.
On December 31, 2018, the Cameroonian Army said it had killed “Field Marshall” Lekeaka Oliver in Lebialem though his death was quickly denied by the Interim Government of Ambazonia. He resurfaced in a video a week later, proving that reports of his death were indeed false. It is however not known when the said video was shot.
Two months after, Cameroon’s Military insisted on social media that the leader of the “Red Dragons” had indeed died and was buried in Nigeria. A twitter and a Facebook account, “Honneur et Fidélité – Armée Camerounaise”, announced on February 11, 2019 that “Field Marshal” died and was buried in Taraba State, Nigeria.
“The grave of late Oliver LEKE FONGUNUEH Field Marshal in Taraba state of Nigeria. He was attained fatally on the 27 of December 2018 during combat with the B.I.R after his position was sold out. He died in Taraba state of Nigeria where he was taken for treatment as requested by his witch doctor. Since then, a comic actor is paid to record his audios in Alapa old rold at Ikom, Nigeria( Sam arks studio),” a post on the military’s Facebook page read on February 11, 2019.
The above post was accompanied by two pictures – one showing Field Marshal displaying guns and another showing a grave believed to be his. A similar post was put on twitter same day.
But as many woke up on May 1 to celebrate Labour Day, an audio from “the late Field Marshal” went viral on social media. He claims to have recorded it on April 30, 2019, although voices could be heard correcting him when he ‘erroneously’ said “30 October”.
Field Marshal in the audio claims to have inflicted pain on security forces across Lebialem recently, although images indicate the contrary. Self-styled separatist General Ayekeh of the ‘Red Dragon’ is said to have been killed a month after similar news made rounds.
A viral video shows the lifeless body of a man said to be “General Ayekeh”, and voices believed to be that of the country’s security and defence forces are heard declaring that ‘Field Marshal’ will be next. This contradicts earlier military communications that the said Field Marshall had long been “neutralised”.
“This is Field Marshal of the Red Dragons. It has been long you heard from me. But Republique said Field Marshal had died. Field Marshal is still alive. Today the 30th April, I think Republique can testify to what happened today in Fontem Central… This is to tell everyone that we do not know 20th May in our land and 1st May that they call Labour Day. We don’t know such in Ambazonia Land…No chief or Fon should be seen in Lebialem with placards to march,” the audio said.
Pictures have however emerged showing pictures of Labour Day celebrations in Menji, Lebialem, despite the separatists ban.
