Fear and outrage are rising in Bamenda after Reverend Ndifor Cletus, senior pastor of Jubilee Assembly of the Full Gospel Mission along Ayaba Street, was shot and wounded by unidentified armed men on Saturday, November 15, 2025.
The attack occurred at the entrance of his residence in Bamenda III as he returned home. Sources say the assailants ambushed him and fired at close range, striking him in the hand before fleeing into the night. Neighbours rushed to his aid, transporting him to a nearby medical facility where he is now hospitalised in stable condition but under close monitoring.
Rev. Cletus, known for his humility, service, and spiritual guidance, remains a deeply respected figure in Bamenda’s Christian community. His shooting has shocked the city and raised renewed concerns about the growing dangers facing religious leaders in Cameroon’s conflict-hit North West region.
Not an Isolated Attack
This violent assault comes just days after:
- The killing of Pastor Desmond in Ndu, reportedly by state forces in front of his congregation.
- The attempted assassination of Rev. Nteih Peter, also in Ndu, who was shot in the arm by gunmen while at home.
- The attack on Sagba Mosque, where three worshippers were killed by Ambazonia separatists.
Churches and mosques – once sacred spaces respected by all sides – are increasingly finding themselves drawn into the conflict, with clergy and worshippers becoming targets of both state and non-state actors.
A Community on Edge
Residents say insecurity in Bamenda continues to worsen, with brazen attacks happening even in residential areas once considered relatively safe.
“If men of God are no longer safe, what about ordinary civilians?” one church member told MMI News.
Local faith leaders are calling for urgent action to protect religious figures who are often the first responders to trauma, grief, and displacement during the conflict.
As Bamenda prays for Rev. Cletus’ recovery, the community is demanding answers — and questioning how a society can survive when even those who preach peace are met with bullets.