By Atia Tilarious Azohnwi, Talla Agha Christopher and Sah Terence
Heavy gunfire broke out on Monday in Buea, capital of Cameroon’s South West Region gripped by violence between Anglophone separatists and security forces for two weeks now.
An apparent gun battle between security forces and separatists is believed to have originated from the Mile 17 bus station before spreading to neighbourhoods like Mile 16, Muea, Molyko, Malingo, Checkpoint, Bonduma and other areas.
“Separatist fighters entered several areas of the city and started firing. The army and police have retaliated,” witnesses say.
Several vehicles belonging to an agency were burned at the Mile 17 Bus Station in Buea and people are hunkered down at home.
Years of resentment at perceived discrimination at the hands of the francophone majority fuelled demands for Anglophone autonomy, which on October 1 last year culminated in a symbolic declaration of independence.
Radicals named Buea as the capital of the self-declared state, Ambazonia, which has no international recognition. A government crackdown then followed, plunging the two regions into almost daily acts of violence and retribution.
According to a government report last month, separatists had killed 74 soldiers and seven police officers since late 2017 while more than 100 civilians had died over the past 12 months.
Over 10 persons including security officials reported succumbed to the cold hands of death under pain from bullet wounds. Economic losses were also recorded.
On Tuesday, just when things were about to pick up after Monday’s ghost town, gunshots again grounded the town for a greater part of the morning. Activities would later timidly resume.
Media reports from Kumba Tuesday morning indicated that several corpses are still being discovered from Monday’s deadly clashes. Going by the reports, a yet to be identified man, dressed in just a sleeping short trouser is believed to have been dragged from his home, killed in the night and dumped by the roadside.
Meanwhile, the entire population of new layout Fiango, a popular area in Kumba, is reported to be packing out as another showdown between the military and separatists is gradually building up. The denizens parking out are said to have received warnings from the restoration forces to quit the area ahead of an anticipated attack on the military camp.
In a related development, the District Chairman of the Ekondo-Titi Electoral District of the Social Democratic Front, SDF is currently receiving treatment at the Ekondo -Titi District hospital. HRH Chief Motase Wangaga sustained injuries on his legs from a stray bullet following gun exchanges between the military and separatists in Ekondo-Titi subdivision.
In Mbonge and Konye, most of the populace is still in the bushes following violent clashes between Security Forces and separatist with most houses in the respective areas burnt down, increasing the number of internally displaced persons.
Week of killings, destruction and terror in North West
Responding to government’s announcement of humanitarian emergency plan to victims of the crisis in the North West and South West Regions, separatists are seemingly trying to send warning signals to government by stepping up attacks on military personnel and installations. Security officers were attacked in Batibo, Belo and Njinikom within the week and in Bambili during the evening hours of Saturday, July 7, 2018. This attack in Bambili caused commotion around Bambui and Bambili as many people rushed home for fear of the unknown.
The commotion was even more intense because the Amba Boys had issued a warning telling the university students in Bambili that Saturday, July 7, 2018 should be their last day to go to school. Responding to this threat, security around the campus has been beefed up.
“Since we started writing our exams we have never had guards around the building but yesterday Saturday was different because we had four guards outside though they were only campus police who can do nothing if Amba Boys come,” a student told The SUN Sunday morning. The student went on to state that there were more military forces around the main campus than ever before since the threats were issued.
The separatists have intensified their use of charms to fight the military in Boyo division, putting sophisticated concoctions along the road and blocking the road around MC2 Njinikom with a coffin probably containing deadly charms.
Many people have continued to flee from Fundong, Njinikom and Baingo to Bamenda and other relatively calm towns. Most of them trek over 50 kilometers going through the hills and valleys of Mentang to Mbam via Mbueni to Kikfuini and to Mbingo moving only in the bushes and always staying at least 5 kilometres from the main road for fear of being caught by a stray bullet.
Despite the escalating crisis, President Biya in his usual rigour policy attitude decreed October 7 as the date for the country’s Presidential elections. Biya’s decision to convene the electoral corps despite the tensions in the country’s English speaking regions has been regarded by many Anglophones as ‘adding insult to injury’.