Bamenda: Second ELECAM Official killed within 24 hours

John Fai, the Divisional Delegate of ELECAM for the MOMO Division, was beaten to death in the Newroad neighborhood of Bamenda, Cameroon’s Northwest region, just hours after another colleague of his was shot to death.

John Fai fell into the hands of an angry mob on Thursday morning, January 19th, 2023, after a young man who was caught trying to break into a home to steal gave his name as an accomplice.

The mob is said to have stormed his house and, without hearing his side of the story, attacked him.

He was taken to the hospital where he died.

His death came barely hours after his counterpart, the District Head of ELECAM for Jakiri, Bui was killed around his residence in the Foncha neighborhood in Bamenda.

All these deaths are coming days after President Paul Biya announced the date for the next Senate elections.

Some have questioned the real motive behind the killing of Fai, arguing that the attack was orchestrated by persons who have vowed to fight against elections taking place in the embattled regions.

Others have also asked how a crowd can ignore the main criminal and instead kill his accomplice, further fueling speculation that the killing could have been politically motivated.

By Soulemanu Buba