Bamenda: Micro Finance Robbery Attempt, Two Armed Bandits Killed

By Njoh Linda

Two yet to be identified armed men were shot dead by security forces on Tuesday following an attempted robbery at the Bayelle Cooperative Credit Union in Mile 2 Nkwen, a busy neighborhood in Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon’s conflict-hit North West Region.

According to eyewitnesses, the suspected robbers stormed the area early in the morning, attempting to break into the credit union before being spotted by security guards on duty. The guards immediately alerted nearby security forces, who responded swiftly to the scene.

A fierce exchange of gunfire ensued, forcing traders and commuters to flee for safety. The operation lasted for over an hour and brought traffic to a standstill along the main commercial stretch of Mile 2 Nkwen.

Authorities confirmed that both attackers were neutralized on the spot and their weapons seized. No civilian or security casualties were reported.

This latest incident adds to a growing wave of armed robberies and attacks targeting financial institutions and businesses in Bamenda amid ongoing insecurity linked to Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis. Over the past few years, the conflict between separatist fighters and government forces has severely disrupted economic activity, leaving residents on edge and local institutions vulnerable to crime.

Security has since been reinforced around major financial establishments in the city as investigations continue to identify the assailants and their possible network.