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By Tata Mbunwe
The killers and abductors in Tuesday’s attack in Bamenda III have been identified. Contrary to earlier reports that David Tingum, an elderly man popularly known as Pa Trench Town was shot dead by suspected separatist fighters, a reliable source has informed MMI the attack which equally resulted in the kidnapping of a pregnant woman, was carried out by thieves who have repeatedly attacked the neighbourhood.
Recounting how the January 11 incident went down, our source stated unequivocally that the perpetrators were not separatist fighters, noting that the gang had carried out two previous attacks on the locality. The source disclosed that one of the assailants dropped a student ID card on the scene as they made away with the pregnant woman who appeared to be near-term.
The deceased, nicknamed after his enterprise, German Trench, located below GTHS Nkwen in Bamenda III, is said to have been shot for interfering in a previous robbery.
“When they came, they fired a gun. Pa tried to find out what was happening. Just then, one of them barged through his gate, yelling,” our source said. He screamed, “You are the one who raised an alarm the last time we came here,” then shot the man a couple of times on his lower extremity.
Pa German Trench’s grandson who is barely two years old rushed and laid down beside him, crying helplessly as bled, we are told.
“The kidnapped lady was actually a neighbour who found herself at the wrong place, at the wrong time. She is actually heavily pregnant,” our source said.
Tuesday’s incident was the third attack the same group was orchestrating against Pa David Tingum and his family. “The thieves had previously attacked his home a couple of times,” our source said Wednesday.
“The first time, they broke into a shop owned by his daughter. They stole cash and also forcibly withdrew money from his Mobile Money account. They also beat his daughter and left her with a concussion. The second time they came and tried to kidnap the said daughter, but people were alerted and blew trumpets to raise an alarm,” our source said.
Authorities in Bamenda had not reacted on the incident at press time. MMI has however been told investigations are ongoing to track the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, consternation still reigns as the whereabouts of the pregnant lady remain unknown.
The abductors had not asked for a ransom by the time of this report. The family of the deceased whose mortal remains are currently in the morgue of the Bamenda Regional Hospital is yet to come to terms with his sudden demise.
