By Tata Mbunwe
Ambazonia separatist fighters in Esu, Menchum Division of the North West Region, are accused of brutally shooting and butchering a man named Meh Chuo Meh Buh, allegedly for providing information about their activities to the Cameroon military.
The victim is currently fighting for his life at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, having suffered severe injuries in the attack.
An anonymous source from Esu revealed that the Amba Boys not only shot the victim’s hand but also set his house ablaze before subjecting him to further brutality, including butchering his head with a machete.
“This present victim was accused by the Amba of reporting them to the military. So they came after him and burnt down his house,” the informant told MMI.
He added that Ambazonia separatist fighters sought refuge in a forest in Esu after being chased by the military from Wum, the Divisional headquarters of Menchum.
The same group is also implicated in the attack and burning of Government Technical High School Esu on December 12, 2023, during which two teachers and almost a dozen students were abducted and later released.
The separatists’ violence against civilians has been a recurring issue since the outbreak of armed conflict in the English-speaking Regions of Cameroon in 2017.
In 2023 alone, at least 300 people lost their lives due to confrontations between the military and separatist forces, as well as targeted killings by separatist fighters.
The incident in Esu reflects the grim reality faced by civilians caught in the crossfire, with some becoming victims of violence for alleged collaboration with opposing forces.
