On the night of Wednesday, December 20, 2023, unidentified assailants attacked a bus belonging to the AFRICON transport company in Bekoko, a town in the Littoral region of Cameroon.
The targeted bus, which had departed from Buea en route to Yaoundé, fell victim to an ambush orchestrated by the assailants on motorcycles. Witnesses reported that the attackers threw stones at the bus, resulting in the shattering of a window. Fortunately, none of the passengers sustained injuries during the assault; however, the incident left them shaken and anxious.
Expressing concern about the incident, some Cameroonians urged the government to swiftly enhance security measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Valerie Mec voiced her apprehension, stating, “It may get worse from here. This will now become a new trend if security forces don’t take significant measures against it. I pray for the safety of all road users during this period.”
On Facebook, a relieved parent, whose child was among the victims, expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank God for his protection. My son was on that bus and is home safely. May no evil befall those traveling during this period in Jesus name amen.”
While such attacks are not uncommon in other parts of the country, the Buea to Bekoko route has seldom witnessed such incidents. Recently, there has been a notable surge in similar attacks, prompting heightened concerns.
In a related development, authorities in the West Region of Cameroon recently apprehended eight men specialising in assaulting travellers on highways. Aged between 21 and 53, these individuals were reportedly part of a well-organized gang led by a 53-year-old who had been operating in the region for several months. The arrests highlight the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing criminal activities along transportation routes.
Meanwhile, the authorities of AFRICON Transport have been contacted for comment.
