Defeaning gunfire rocked the Mile 16 Bolifamba neighbourhood of Buea on Monday evening, June 30, 2025, leaving at least one person dead and several vehicles burnt.
The attack occurred during the traditional Monday “ghost town” — a civil shutdown enforced by Ambazonia separatist fighters every Monday as part of their push for independence in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
Residents say the shooting began in the early evening hours, with intense gunfire heard near the Mile 16 Mall, a hotspot that has witnessed previous violence related to the ongoing Anglophone Crisis.
Initial reports indicated two people sustained injuries, but updated information confirms that the attack resulted in one fatality. Eyewitnesses reported that at least four taxis and one motorbike burned during the gunfire.
Separatist Fighters Suspected
Though no separatist group has claimed responsibility for the Mile 16 attack, residents strongly suspect Ambazonia fighters, who have previously carried out similar assaults in the area.
Mile 16 has been repeatedly targeted since the Anglophone Crisis escalated into armed conflict in 2017. Monday’s violence marks a sharp turn after months of relative calm in the neighbourhood.
Despite the absence of an official statement at the time of this report, security forces are reportedly investigating the incident.
Amateur videos obtained by MMI show two vehicles engulfed in flames, while voices in the background express shock and fear.
“This kind of thing keeps happening and we are just tired,” a youth in the area told MMI. “We don’t feel safe.”
