By WIFAH JENNYHANS NDE
The population of Tobin and Mveh in Kumbo last Thursday June 22, 2017 clashed with security forces after some youths tried to secure the release of some of the inhabitants who had been arrested. The scene quickly escalated and turned violent after the police decided to use tear gas on the population.
According to reports, these security elements on the wake of that Thursday went hunting for a young man who, according to sources, was in possession of an SCNC flag. When they got to their family home, he had fled and nobody knew his whereabouts.
In his absence, the security forces bundled his father and sister – a nursing mother to the station and detained them. The baby was later taken to the station by some relatives for the mother to suckle but the security forces turned them down.
The news of this inhumane treatment of an innocent baby later spread like wild fire across Tobin. Hundreds of bike riders armed with sticks and machetes teamed up and stormed the brigade where this lady was detained. This resulted in a confrontation between the bike riders and the forces of law and order.
Security forces sprayed the entire neighborhood with tear gas. Multiple gunshots were fired, reportedly in the air, while numerous arrests were made.
In the midst of the commotion, the bike riders got two of the security officers badly beaten including the Company Commander whose name The SUN withholds.
It was thanks to the intervention of the Senior Divisional Officer for Bui, Theophile Nzeki who ordered the release of all those arrested that calm finally returned to the community.
At press time, the company commander was still responding to treatment at the Banso Baptist Hospital. It is also alleged that a civilian was shot on the leg by the security forces.