By WIFAH J. NDE
Two successful bank robberies have been carried out by yet to be identified individuals in the regional capital of the North West region, Bamenda despite a heavy military and security presence due to the ongoing Anglophone crisis.
A microfinance institution was attacked at about 11am last Wednesday at Ntarikon and followed by another successful attack the following day at another finance institution the following day at Meta quarters where about Fcfa 2 million was stolen.
Many denizens of Bamenda have been quick to point accusing fingers at the military, blaming them of focusing too much on innocent civilians while the real culprits of police shooting and bank robberies continue their activities unabated.
The security decisions taken by the administration which includes curfews and restricted movements of the population due to the crisis in the two Anglophone regions has been described by many as very strict and counterproductive.
A visitor to Bamenda who spoke to The SUN decried the treatment travelers have to go through to enter the city. He revealed that he took ill for over a week after suffering from what he termed maltreatment at security check points.
According to our source who preferred anonymity, upon arrival at Matazem, the gateway in to the city, from Yaoundé, passengers were all asked to step down, present their ID cards to the security officers before crossing on foot. He said over 12 seventy-seater buses had arrived at the control post almost at the same time and everyone had to step out of their buses into the freezing cold to go through the long queues for presentation of ID cards.
To make matters even worse, of the eight officers who were at the control post, six dedicated their attention to a handful of passengers who either did not have ID cards or their cards had expired. He said these officers were more dedicated to coercing these unlucky travelers to give them money for their freedom rather that paying attention to the long queue that was building leaving over 400 passengers to be controlled by two officers, leaving the passengers at the mercy of the harsh early morning cold characteristic of the region.
According to our source, the whole ritual was repeated at another check point just about 100 meters away before they could finally board their buses.
“By the time I got home, I had developed severe malaria with cough and catarrh which landed me in the hospital. Two other persons I traveled with that night raised a similar complaint. Is this a security measure or an intention to kill people indirectly and exhort money?” our source questioned.
The ordeal of our anonymous visitor adds to uncountable tales of suffering by several Bamenda city dwellers during this period of ‘security’ boost. From business men to people’s freedom of movement, persistent fear and intimidations have been characteristics of life in Bamenda lately.
While business people, particularly those involved in nocturnal ventures such as snacks, cabarets and night clubs complain of their dwindling activities, denizens on their part cry foul over restricted freedom of movement.
Victims have however, not had it easy from the hands of security officers. Countless reports have emerged of cases of gross brutality by security officers on civilians who violate the curfew or anyone caught on the streets without identification papers by 9:30pm, particularly around the Mobile Nkwen neighbourhood.
A highly ranked SDF militant was reportedly caught around the Hospital Roundabout neighbourhood while rushing to respond to a call from his Ntarinkon boss after 10pm on Sunday November 19, he was badly brutalized at gunpoint and was later hospitalized.
Inhabitants of the Sissia quarters in Nkwen have been having sleepless nights due to repeated break-ins and mass arrests by security forces who claim they are carrying out security checks. In some cases, The SUN was hinted that those arrested by these security elements will be asked to pay FCFA 25,000 for those with ID cards and at least FCFA 50,000 for those without ID Cards for their freedom.