A pregnant pharmacist, Sheila Nemu Garbi, and her unborn twins were killed after security forces opened fire on a taxi that allegedly refused to stop at a military checkpoint in Bamenda’s Ngomgham neighbourhood. The taxi driver was also killed during the incident.
Fatal Shooting at Military Checkpoint
According to eyewitnesses, Sheila, who ran a small pharmacy in Small Mankon, boarded a taxi on the morning of Tuesday, August 19, 2025. The driver reportedly failed to comply with military orders to halt at a checkpoint.
Security officers, suspecting a possible kidnapping, fired at the vehicle. The taxi driver died instantly, while Sheila, who witnesses say was “shouting for help,” sustained severe injuries.
Emergency Medical Efforts Fail
Sheila was rushed to a nearby Catholic hospital, where doctors carried out an emergency procedure to save her unborn twins. Both infants—a boy and a girl—did not survive. Despite medical efforts to stabilize her, Sheila later succumbed to her injuries.
Her body was transferred to the Bafut Hospital mortuary, while her twins have already been laid to rest.
Conflicting Accounts of the Incident
The exact circumstances of the shooting remain unclear. Some reports suggest the taxi driver may have been attempting to kidnap Sheila, while others say he was simply trying to evade police checks.
The military has not yet issued an official statement regarding the confrontation.
Red Cross Pays Tribute
Sheila’s death has also shaken the humanitarian community. In a message shared by colleagues, the International Red Cross confirmed her as one of their members:
“Good evening dear soldiers of Humanity. Following the incident that happened at Ngomgham today, the pregnant woman who was shot was one of us. She was trained in 2020, she worked with us during the hunger crisis project.”
Community Questions Use of Force
The shooting has raised further questions about the conduct of security forces in Cameroon’s conflict-hit North West Region.
One Bamenda resident told Laarry Times:
“The question is not just what the driver’s motives were, but whether alternative, less lethal methods could have been used to bring the vehicle under control.”
Civilian Casualties in Ongoing Anglophone Crisis
Sheila’s death, alongside her unborn twins and the taxi driver, now brings the total death toll in the incident to four. The tragedy highlights the risks faced by civilians in the North West Region, where insecurity and military operations linked to the Anglophone crisis continue to claim lives.
Sheila Nemu Garbi is being remembered by family, friends, and patients as a dedicated pharmacist and expectant mother. Her sudden death has left the community in shock, with growing calls for justice and accountability.
