-Scores reported death during clash with security forces
-Activist dribble forces, declare ‘independence’
-Black magic displayed by some protesters during confrontations
-Biya tweets from abroad as activists bleed from bullets
By ELAH GEOFREY MBONGALE, ATIA TILARIOUS & WIFAH JENNYHANS NDE
Sunday, October 1, 2017 will be emblazoned in the minds of Cameroonians of English speaking extraction of the North West and South West regions as a bloody one. A planned peaceful demonstration quickly turned violent when protesters met with stiff resistance from the military, leaving more than 20 dead, several wounded and more than a hundred arrested.
The security measures were strict and binding, but believers in the restoration of the statehood of the former Southern Cameroons gave a blind eye. They dared the military that had been called in to foil October 1 demonstrations.
The demonstrations were called by the Southern Cameroon Ambazonia Governing Council, a structure created by Anglophones in the Diaspora to ensure the restoration of the state of former Southern Cameroon aka Ambazonia.
The demonstrations were also intended to hoist the Ambazonia flag at strategic location, including the palaces of traditional authorities as a symbolic declaration of independence.
The morning of October 1 witnessed relative calm across the Northwest and South West regions although security officers were stationed at strategic areas in the regions.
This was in line with gubernatorial orders signed on Thursday, September 28 and Friday September 29, 2017 by the governors of the South West and North West regions respectively banning the movement of persons and motorbikes, interurban movements, closure of maritime and land borders and a prohibition on persons not to group themselves in numbers exceeding four.
The docile atmosphere suddenly got dark and tense before midday across the Anglophone regions as thousands of activists and demonstrators emptied themselves into the streets carrying peace plants and chanting freedom songs to celebrate what they termed the restoration of the independence of Southern Cameroons.
Mass demonstrations in NW
The people of Nkwen took to the streets in hundreds, and were dispersed with water cannons and teargas. They regrouped and resurfaced after calm which became a hide and seek game between the security forces and civilians. Before long, it became a huge crowd that over powered the security forces to march to the Fon’s palace at mile 4, Nkwen where “Ambazonian” flags were hoisted.
At press time, there were rampant gunshots from security forces around the Nkwen neighbourhood, huge mobilization of the population marching towards the Independence Square, known as City Chemist. The SUN gathered that, tyres were burnt around the City Chemist neighbourhood, Redezvous and those around Travelers were put under house arrest.
In Kumbo where the central prison was reportedly on fire, Four of the prisoners who attempted escape were shot dead, protesters equally took to the streets there and hoisted flags.
5 were reported shot dead in Ndu, Donga Mantung Division but things got twisted as civilians allegedly seized the gun of a gendarme officer and forced the company commander, the DO and 26 gendarmes to flee.
In Ndop, one person was shot death while another is recovering from injuries.
At Nchuabuh, a quarter in Mankon, 3 people were shot and were rushed to the hospital by the population where they are presently responding to treatment. While this was happening, the “Ambazonian” flags were being hoisted at the Mankon Fon’s palace and the “Ambazonian” anthem sung.
Three elements of the Rapid Intervention Batallion, BIR who visited the scene were intimidated by the population and they took to their heels for reinforcement.
Through the mayor of Bamenda II, Ballick Awa Fidelis, the Fon of Mankon sent these words “the Fon supports you and acknowledges your efforts. Continue the struggle or celebration but the fon would not like to hear of bloodshed”.
As tension continued into the later part of the day, it was gunshots that met with the mobilized population of Bafut who had hoisted flags at the Fon’s palace and Nsani, the main square of that locality.
According to reports from our correspondent, Wambo Emmanuel who filed in from the forest in Bafut, it was a bloody confrontation between the irate crowd and police officers. As recounted by our correspondent, after the crowd had successfully hoisted the “Ambazonian” flags at the Fon’s palace and Nsani squares adding to another that was hoisted since September 22 on a tree in a market shrine, these youth marched to the police station to order for the release of some of those who had been arrested and their confiscated bikes when the police opened fire on them. In Bafut, several persons were wounded from gunshots but none died.
There were gunshots and teargas in the air throughout the night in neighbourhoods like Rendezvous, Travellers in Bamenda.
The population of Bafut accused the security officers of looting stores and stealing livestock during the raids.
Some of the security officers were seen consuming the liquor they looted from some bars Monday morning.
The battle for Buea
In the South West Region, While Limbe succumbed to heavy military presence and deserted the streets, a huge crowd of demonstrators, largely youths, marched up from Mutengene, despite military impediments, towards Buea, the regional capital and erstwhile capital of the former Southern Cameroons.
The crowd gradually grew in size as it soaked in more people along the way. Youth from Mile 14, 16 joined in and met up with others from Muea at the Mile 17 Junction, main entrance into Buea. Despite teargas, flash bang grenades and gunshots, the crowd forged on towards the governor’s office.
The police mounted several blockades to prevent the protestors from moving up but they were dribbled by some witty demonstrators who took shot cuts through residential neighbourhoods to hoist the Ambazonia flag around Bongo Squares.
Some scenario repeated itself across the South West regions, In kumba, four people were reportedly killed by security forces while others sustained injuries from gunshots. Two security officers are also said to have sustained injuries.
In Ikiliwindi, Tombel, Bangem Menji, Mamfe, Teke and other areas, protester defied the odds to hoist the Ambazonia flag at strategic locations, including palaces of traditional rulers.
The Sun is yet to get the final death toll from the October 1, 2017 demonstrations but unofficial reports put it above 20 persons.
Security forces have been accused of siezing the corpses of those killed, making it difficult to get the real toll.
Black magic demonstrators
The Sun also got reports that some of the leaders of the protests had solicited the services of native doctors to get charms to protect them against bullets. In Kumba and Mamfe, The Sun learned that some guys purporting to have those charms confronted security officers who took to their heels after bullets didn’t penetrate the Odeshi(name for someone who can’t be penetrated by a bullet) guys. The Sun can however not independently confirm these claims.
Another internet shutdown
It should be noted that prior to the gubernatorial orders prohibiting the movement of persons, the government had restricted internet access in the two English speaking regions. The internet was finally shutdown late Sunday.
This is the second time government is shutting down internet in the North West and South West regions as a result of the Anglophone crisis. Earlier this year, internet services were suspended in the two regions for almost three months.
Sunday’s confrontations came on the heels of a statement from the United Nations Secretary General calling on both parties to exercise restraint and not indulge in violence. The UN chief called on the government engage in inclusive dialogue to solve the root cause of the crisis.