Bamenda, January 15, 2024 – The serenity of the night was shattered for residents in the Nkwen and New Road in Bamenda, in the restive North West Region of Cameroon, as/ a police station was attacked. Residents report that gunshots disrupted their sleep at approximately 1 a.m. this Monday.
“We did not sleep last night; heavy gunfire kept us awake the entire night,” expressed a resident, describing the tense atmosphere that enveloped the town.
Locals have accused separatist fighters as the instigators of the assault, with a growing belief that the second district police station in Nkwen, within the Bamenda III subdivision, was the primary target.
“The gunshots were concentrated around the police station; the separatists were likely targeting the second district police station situated at Nkwen,” disclosed a resident, adding to the severity of the situation. Buses parked along the roadside bore visible scars from the intense shooting, offering evidence of the fierce encounter.
Tragically, an unidentified bike rider fell victim to the violence near the Nkwen Health Center, not far from the Nkwen Palace. In another grim incident, a bike was discovered charred this morning at the entrance to the Nkwen Palace.
Around 7 a.m., the disquieting sound of gunshots was also heard across the Bamenda II subdivision, heightening the prevailing unease.
Fear has gripped residents in both communities, prompting urgent calls for residents to seek refuge indoors. “Please, if you are outside, rush back to your houses; amba boys will kill you,” pleaded a resident of Bamenda, underscoring the prevailing sense of danger looming over the city.
The Anglophone Crisis, which has prevailed for over seven years now, has left residents in Bamenda grappling with uncertainty as they navigate through their daily routines.
