About a dozen civilians have been killed as they tried fleeing from Kejom Keku also known as big Babanki in the restive North West Region of Cameroon following attacks.
The victims, reports say were on their way to Bamenda running away from what sources on the ground described as “military brutality” on the civilian population of Big Babanki — but were killed just around the abandoned toll gate on the Bambui-Babanki road.
Reports further note that more corpses were later discovered in bushes in Big Babanki with bullet wounds.
MMI has been able to identify four victims while the others are still under review.
Some of the victims had bags of dresses with them when their lives were cut short.
“I was in my farm when I heard gunshots. I hid in the grass and saw how they were shooting at the bodies on the ground like they were shooting animals. From a distance, I could see one placing something that looks like a stick on one of the bodies,” a witness whose names we are withholding told MIMI.
Going by the pictures that we have, one of the victims has a dane gun placed on his body.
We have not been able to confirm whether the gun belong to him or was placed on his dead body by the military – a practice common with government troops when they kill separatist fighters.
The victims’ remains were only collected by family members on Saturday morning on motor bikes since vehicles are not allowed to use the road — following a decision imposed by separatist fighters operating in Big Babanki.
Three of them were sons of Big Babanki while one was from Nkambe and lived in Bambui.
Summary execution?
On Friday night, June 16th, 2023, MMI reported how six young boys, including a quarter head and Kingmaker, who were arrested by security forces in Kedjom Keku (Big Babanki) were shot and killed.
MMI’s sources on the ground said they were on Friday, June 16th, 2023, shot dead in Bambui Mile 12, Tubah Sub-Division, a few metres away from Big Babanki
“They were arrested over the weekend in Big Babanki and say they were being taken to Bamenda where they were killed,” our source added.
The victims, who are all civilians, were accused of having ties with Separatists.
“They were accused of having dealings with Amba fighters. None of them was Amba,” added our source.
Among the victims is a kingmaker whose name we got as Tsam, a popular Kingmaker close to the Fon of Big Babanki village, the quarter head of Mughi, Promise, and Ezikel a bike rider.
In all, at least, twelve people were killed soldiers and tagged separatists. “A dozens Ambazonian fighters were captured and killed in Bambui, they were Separatists,” said a source close to the government of Cameroon.
MMI has been able to establish from relatives and other local sources that the victim were civilians, some of whom were fleeing from Big Babanki, which has been in chaos for several weeks.
Military deployment
Eversince the traditional authorities of the Kedjom Keku village requested a military base to counter the activities of separatist fighters, tens of civilians have been killed.
Fews days back, MMI reported how soldiers also destroyed homes, broke into shops and emptied them. “I’m one of the shop owners, my shop was broken down and items inside looted by soldiers. I lost everything,” a victim cried out.
Separatists have also blocked roads in Babanki, paralysing movement. The move came after there kidnapped and tortured nearly one hundred women for protesting a monthly tax levy.
So far, authorities have not reacted to the recent killings and have not made themselves available for comments.
Note: All the images cannot be shared because they are shocking!
By Soulemanu Buba and Ndi Fungwe
