Activities making October one celebrations in Bali were charecterized by a march past and gun exchanges between Government forces and the Bufalous of Bali Nyonga, one of the armed groups fighting to create a state they called Ambazonia.
Bali is one of the pivots is the ongoing Southern Cameroon war of independence in the North West Region of Cameroon.
Sources say the gunfire started when the separatist fighters arrived the Ntafoang Grand Stand in Bali. Government forces stationed at the Court Yard around the Fon’s Palace opened fire, prompting a response from the separatist fighters.
No one was hurt on the side of the fighters, a source said.
October 1 In Bamenda Town And Its Environs
There were no major activities in the town of Bamenda as heavily armed men in uniform were stationed at all road junctions, major streets, in the quarters, hiden corners of the town, roof top of story buildings, just to name but these.
They had just one mission, which was to frustrate the activities of Pro Independence fighters geared towards celebrating what they say is their independence day.
“This caused many to stay indoors, we got information via an audio mesaage that, those who can celebrate should go out and celebrate and that those who would not be able should stay indoors reason why we stayed indoors,” a Bamenda denizen told MMI
The usual hoisting of flags was some how absent as well. We however received information that, the Ambazonian flag colors were printed on the tar in some areas of the town.
The heavy military deployment caused many to stay indoors. No business place was opened, no commercial motor bikes and the yellow taxis especially in the Sub Divisions were visited.
Places are now calm, as many of the soldiers have all retired home, MMI gathers.
Many are happy that the streets were not painted with people’s blood as had been the case some years back.
