For over a week, more than 50 civilians, including women and children, have been arrested, abducted, and held incommunicado by the military and Ambazonia groups in Bamali village, Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region.
Local sources say soldiers stormed Bamali on Thursday, July 25, and whisked away two women.
One of the women is reported to be the mother of an alleged Ambazonia fighter, while the other is his wife.
The action, as reported by The Guardian Post edition No. 3191 of Tuesday, August 6, 2024, was allegedly intended to coerce the Amba fighter into surrendering, with the promise that his mother and wife would be freed upon his compliance.
In retaliation, a group of Amba fighters launched an attack on the families whose children are members of defense and security forces.
“The fighters moved from one house to the other on Friday, July 26, kidnapping parents, mostly mothers and wives of defense and security forces who hail from Bamali village,” a villager reported.
It is alleged that the Amba fighters warned they would only release their captives after defense and security forces freed the mother and wife of their colleague.
Several sources in the village, including family members of those concerned, say they have been unable to communicate with the individuals arrested by the military or kidnapped by Amba fighters since their abduction.
“All their phones have been switched off. We haven’t received any calls, even from those who kidnapped them. We don’t know what they want. The whole family is worried because we don’t even know if they are safe or not,” said a family member of one of the victims, who wished to remain anonymous.
MMI has also tried unsuccessfully to trace the whereabouts of those arrested and abducted by both parties.
The situation remains tense as the community awaits news of their loved ones.
