The traditional ruler of Troua village near Garoua, Benoue division, of the North region has reportedly died minutes after he was ferried to a polling station in Garoua to participate in the first ever election into the Regional Assemblies Sunday December 6, 2020.
According to reports, the bedridden chief whose name News Upfront got as Bamanga Bernard Lawane, aged 72, passed on shortly after succumbing to a malaise at the polling station to cast his vote.
“After voting, he was about to leave when he had a malaise fell and died in the station where chiefs were voting,” a source in Garoua said.
Sources have blamed his demise on the absence of medical dispositions to intervene after the collapse.
The deceased, third class chief had been carried out of his sick bed in his palace covering close to 150 kilometer to Garoua divisional head quarter of Benoue.
He was later transported back to Troua by some family members who had assisted in taking him to the station.
Sources said despite his poor health conditions, he was obliged to cast his vote in order not to be seen as haven boycotted the electoral process.
Sources said after the pasing on of the chief, a medical reinforcement was ordered and transport vehicle assigned to convey the custodian of the tradition back to their palaces.
Meanwhile, reports yet to be confirmed said 13 traditional authorities were turned away from the polling stations in Garoua.
Though no reason has been accounted for their rejection, administrative repression is alleged to be responsible.
