Bamenda: Man on the run for removing chains from murder victim’s leg

A resident of Bamenda, in the North West Region of Cameroon, has been forced to go on the run after being threatened by Ambazonia separatists. The man, whose identity is protected, was forced to run after armed separatists asked him to return the chains he removed from the legs of a businessman who was recently kidnapped and killed in Bamenda.

As reported by sources close to the victim, his trouble started recently when the mutilated body of Djimeli Idriss was dumped at a Junction in Mbelewa in Nkwen, Bamenda III council area, and was being transported to the West Region for burial.

At the Finance Junction in Bamenda, this man is said to have used a saw to cut off the chain that was used to bind Djimeli’ legs.

Unbeknownst to him, there were individuals in the crowd at the finance junction bidding farewell to the deceased who were either responsible for the killing or sympathised with the perpetrators.

“Later that evening, he met a notice pasted on the walls of his house in Nkwen giving him seven days to return the chain and the lock he removed from Djimeli’s legs. Very much aware of what would happen to him, he decided to take off, leaving behind all that he has ever worked for,” Erick A, a neighbour, told MMI.

The kidnapping and murder of Djemili Idriss

Witnesses reported that on Thursday, August 20, 2023, a group of kidnappers forcefully entered the Farmer’s House neighbourhood at Mile 3 Nkwen and abducted Djimeli.

All efforts made by family and friends to secure his release were unsuccessful. Reports have also indicated that significant amounts of money were paid in order to secure his release.

“We got information on Thursday that his body had been deposited at Mbelewa. This was after we were told that the kidnappers had asked for transport money to bring him back. We did not know he was going to be killed. We went there and discovered the body in very bad shape,” explained a close friend.

Djimeli was buried that same weekend in his village in the West Region of Cameroon.