By SAH TERENCE ANIMBOM
When a contingent of 500 soldiers were sent to the North West region ahead of the February 9, 2020 twin elections as peace keepers or call them protectors of persons and property, the action received much criticisms as it is unheard of that troops be sent into a region only in a bid to force elections to hold. People were yet to chew on the heavy militarisation when they started striking.
One of the first villages to be descended on by the fresh troops from Yaounde was Abuh village, a village in Fundong sub division known to be the strong hold of ‘Ambazonian Restoration fighters. The military went down to the village on Saturday January 11, 2020 and attacked the ‘Amba Boys camp’ installed in the village, killing three armed fighters and two unarmed civilians, reports say.
“They burnt houses in the village and demolished with the help of a front head loader one beautiful house for nothing. It is true that the boys are in this village but they should also know that there are innocent civilians in the village who cannot abandon their houses and families to run away. When the military comes to fight the boys they should fight just them and go. They should not burn our houses” Nawain Njang, a woman of about 55 who had her house along the road, burnt told The SUN.
The SUN also spoke to people in Ngwah village, a village that is also known to be a strong hold of ‘Ambazonian fighters’ in Boyo Division and Fundong in particular: “We were sleeping when we heard them passing and before we noticed there were heavy gunshots and houses being set on fire. They burnt most of the houses along the road as they passed to Abuh”, one indigene recounted.
It is worth noting that this is the second time the military is descending to this area and burning houses along the road. More people have been displaced from the village to other areas out of Fundong and within Fundong sub division. This act has forced the blocking of roads leading to Fundong within the last week thereby forcing people who wish to travel to and from Njinikom and Fundong as well as Belo to trek most of the way and through shortcuts on bikes and at very high costs.
In Bafut on Monday, January 13, 2020, the military also clashed with the ‘Amba boys’ there, causing casualties on both sides and chasing the whole town into the bushes.
The recent and most horrible was the Bali situation that saw more than 25 houses set ablaze with more than seven (7) persons reported dead. The one that caught the attention of many was a certain Charles, apparently in his late thirties who was killed and then burnt in a house.
These attacks by the military have increased since the installation of General Nkah Valere as the commander of the 5th joint military region. In a sitting with the press, he warned ‘Amba boys’, telling them that the military knows where they are and that if they do not drop their arms and stop the hostilities, the military will come for them. It would appear he is a no-nonsense man who keeps to his word. Fighting has intensified in most ‘hot zones’ in the North West region since the start of the year.