The Mayor of Galim, Elie Saker Tshouongang has expressed frustration during the funeral ceremony for the nine civilians recently killed by separatists in Bamenyam.
The funeral, presided over by the Governor of the West Region, Awa Fonka Augustine, unfolded at the Bamenyam market square in the West Region of Cameroon on December 2, 2023.
On November 21 in Bamenyam, separatist fighters launched a brutal assault on a bustling market, resulting in nine deaths. The attackers shot locals, set vehicles ablaze, and kidnapped several individuals.
During his speech, the Mayor of Galim expressed shock at the ease with which separatists invade the locality, sow terror, and leave peacefully.
“We are overwhelmed, Mr. Governor; we are overwhelmed. From 2020 to the present day, we have never caught an attacker,” said the mayor.
Elie Saker questioned the role of the security forces present in the locality, stating, “Every time it’s war, never an aggressor caught, never an aggressor injured due to failure to control one of them. It’s sad, Mr. Governor. At this moment, I am not a politician.”
The Mayor of Galim emphasized his reliance on public authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are pursued, tracked down, and punished “in accordance with the law.”
In his speech, Governor Awa Fonka Augustine recalled the need for the population to work closely with the defence and security forces for better security in the commune of Galim.
It is not the first time that separatist fighters from the North West Region of Cameroon have carried out a bloody attack in the neighboring region. On the evening of June 7, 2022, at least nine Gendarmerie elements were killed in Njatapon, a border between Ngoketundjia in the North West region and Noun in the West region.
