In the village of Otetek, within the Zoétélé district, a land dispute has escalated into a source of social tension. The controversy centres on ABA’A OYONO Jean Calvin, a local resident accused by several neighbours of amassing a large land portfolio through transactions that many say lack customary and administrative legitimacy. Reports also allege that boundary markers on a disputed parcel were destroyed, and that residents have been summoned by the Zoétélé gendarmerie in what they describe as intimidation.
Residents point to a series of sales that they claim were conducted irregularly, without the customary procedures and official documentation required for land transfers. They also name two other notables, OYONO AYISSI André and OYONO OYONO Godefroy, who allegedly signed sale deeds in exchange for bribes, again without clarifying the customary rights of the families involved. These allegations suggest that the accumulation of land by the parties in question has undermined traditional inheritance practices and fostered mistrust within the community.
According to the complainants, the gendarmerie has been used to pressure them into relinquishing claims on the contested plots. “We are being called repeatedly, and it feels like a tactic to force us to abandon our rights,” one resident said. The dispute also involves a university lecturer who is publicly recognised as a legal expert on television; critics argue that his legal standing should translate into a strict adherence to procedure and respect for all parties’ rights.
On 28 November 2025, the sub‑prefect of Zoétélé, Madame EKANI FOE Karen Jasmine Rénée, visited the village chief’s office to address the conflict. She urged the community to preserve peace and follow the applicable rules, stating:
“Zoétélé does not need tensions at this time. Everyone knows what has been left to them, and if someone wants to buy, they also know how to acquire a plot.”
A recent incident involved the alleged removal of boundary markers on a parcel that the complainants say was already under their rightful ownership. They claim to possess documentary evidence supporting their claims and accuse the parties involved of attempting to undermine their rights again.
The community now calls for a swift, impartial review of all contested transactions, a verification of the parcel boundaries, and the protection of rightful owners’ rights. With municipal and legislative elections approaching, local leaders stress that unresolved land disputes could have unpredictable consequences for the social fabric built on family and customary ties.
<small>Source: 237actu — read the original story there.</small>
