By WIFAH J. NDE
Hospital roundabout neighbourhood in Bamenda on the dawn of Sunday November 19, 2017 was in panic with tight security checks following gunshots by security elements from about 4am to 6am.
Unconfirmed report say police officers on patrol around the Hospital roundabout neighbourhood were attacked by some identified men for arresting, exhorting money and brutalizing people who have been defying the SDO’s curfew of November 8, restricting movements within Mezam Division between the hours of 10pm and 5am to end November 23, 2017.
At least 4 civilians are reported wounded and a police officer feared dead after the exchanges between security officers and unidentified assailants. Due to security obscurity, The SUN could not confirm, with exactitude, the real cause of the gunshots and the initiators.
Nonetheless, security checks along the Commercial Avenue, Food market and Hospital roundabout resulted in mass arrests in the morning of Sunday November 19.
Hundreds were reportedly arrested in the early hours and bundled up in the Bamenda Congress Hall, some of those arrested say they were simply trapped in the streets during the prohibited hours in Mezam.
A majority of those arrested were victims of no identification papers or those who attempted to violate security instructions. Those arrested and taken to the Congress Hall were however, later released following administrative orders as The SUN gathered.
The tension further disrupted business at the Food market area which is usually a busy scene on Sunday mornings as security elements sent away everyone at the scene and got some arrested.
At the time of this report, an uneasy calm reigned at the affected area and official statements from government and security officials are pending.
Those injured have been rushed to the hospital for treatment even as security restrictions will not permit any media access.