Fear and chaos characterised the village of Kedjom Ketinguh, Tubah subdivision of the North West Region, last night, April 3, 2025. Notorious separatist fighter and serial kidnapper Ngeh Cyprian, also known as “The Only Bro,” launched yet another brutal attack on the community. Witnesses report that Cyprian and his armed group stormed the village, firing shots into the air for an extended period before abducting at least two individuals.
The victims include the wife of a respected village leader and businessman, Bah Awongie, and a man identified only as Kenneth. The attack has left residents terrified, as Cyprian’s group has gained infamy for their violent operations and extortion tactics across the area.
A History of Terror
This latest attack is just one of many atrocities attributed to Ngeh Cyprian, a commander within the Ambazonian separatist movement, answering to Sako Samuel Ikome, based in the United States. His faction has been responsible for a series of brutal incidents, including murders, kidnappings, and ransom demands, contributing to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Anglophone regions.
On February 19, 2025, Cyprian’s group launched a deadly assault in Bamessing, killing at least five civilians, including a woman and her newborn child. Witnesses report that authorities forcibly removed her from a local Catholic church and executed her in public. Just three days later, on February 22, his fighters stormed a funeral in Kedjom Ketinguh, abducting several attendees and stealing four vehicles, later demanding a ransom of 28 million FCFA for their release.
In January 2025, Cyprian assassinated Leo Vishi Newuh. His extortion efforts escalated in August 2024, when he threatened mass kidnappings in Bamukumbit if villagers failed to raise 12 million FCFA to fund his armed group.
A Region in Crisis
The ongoing violence in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, commonly referred to as the Anglophone Crisis, has led to widespread displacement and suffering among civilians. Since 2017, separatist groups, including Cyprian’s faction, have engaged in a deadly struggle with government forces, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction.
While government forces have struggled to regain control over affected areas, separatist leaders like Ngeh Cyprian continue to impose their reign of terror, often targeting civilians to fund their operations. Kidnappings, ransom demands, and summary executions have become all too common in this conflict.
What’s Next for Kedjom Ketinguh?
Once again, the Kedjom Ketenguh people feel frightened for their safety after last night’s attack, while Cyprian’s fighters continue to act with impunity. Fearing the worst, the families of the abducted victims wait impatiently for word. Authorities and local leaders are uncertain on how to react while the paucity of resources and ongoing turmoil make good intervention difficult.
Calls for global involvement and humanitarian relief become stronger as the crisis gets more severe. The fate of the abducted people is still unknown, and the inhabitants of Kedjom Ketenguh can only pray that their suffering does not turn into yet another sad chapter in the annals of turbulent Cameroon.
