Separatists kill 9 civilians in retaliation for 5 fighters killed by military

Cameroon and the rest of the world woke up to the horror of the news that separatists had carried out an attack in Nacho, targetting civilians. Nacho, located in the East of Bamenda II, headquarters of Cameroon’s restive North West region, is again in tears.

The neighbourhood was thrown in wailing Sunday, July 16, 2023, after armed separatist fighters opened fire on unarmed civilians, killing at least nine of them on the spot and leaving two in a critical state in the hospital, while two others escaped with minor injuries.

Those killed include three women and six men, a source in Nacho told MMI.

The shooting occurred at Nacho Junction, a popular joint in the town of Bamenda. “At Nacho Junction, so many people meet there in the evening, especially on weekends for leisure and relaxation; that’s where they were shot,” our source said.

Last night’s incident occurred three days after government forces stormed the same vicinity and killed five fighters – following a tip-off from inhabitants.

In a retaliatory move, the separatist fighters stormed Nacho junction on Sunday – started shooting indiscriminately – and accusing inhabitants of being ‘blacklegs’.

Separatists fighting for an independent state called ‘Ambazonia’ have attacked and killed many civilians in the past which they describe as ‘black legs’ otherwise known as traitors or betrayers of the struggle for independence they have been fighting for since 2016.

Genesis

Following the shooting spree, MMI in an exclusive chat with a Nacho resident found out that Separatist fighters, clad in military attires carried out the attack.

Emmanuel Ache (real name withheld for security reasons) who lives in the neighbourhood said the fighters carried out the attack “in retaliation of their colleagues killed” as a result of military-civilian collaboration.

“About a week ago, some boys came to maintain Amba laws in Nacho quarter. They warned some people against disrespecting the traditional Monday ghost towns and talking against the boys and the struggle. Some people alerted the military of their presence and activities. The military came in and shot five of them dead while others succeeded to escape,” Ache told MMI.

The fighters who succeeded to escape according to his narration returned on Sunday with more fighters pulling people out of their homes for execution, confirmed our source.

“Yesterday when people return from their ‘Njangis’ (a local saving scheme, in Nigeria, it is called ‘Ajo’) and other Sunday engagements, the boys came and removed people from their homes, taking them to Nacho junction for interrogation. They inquired to know who amongst them called in the military to kill their colleagues. One person was admitted and was shot. Others tried to escape and were sprayed with bullets, leaving a total of nine people dead and four persons wounded,” he went on.

According to Ache, “The night has been a sad one as families and locals are inconsolable.”

The military stormed the area after the deadly separatist attack, fired gunshots in the air and left.

Married couple among victims

Among those killed is a couple.

A man whose name MMI got as Simplice, a mobile phone dealer at Commercial Avenue, Bamenda together with his wife were all shot dead.

They leave behind three children. “The children they are leaving behind are aged seven, five and three. It is sad these kids would now have to be without parents. How they will cope is now unknown,” our source said.

Confusion

When the news of the attack went public, many were mired in confusion as to who committed the act.

While some sources said government soldiers were behind the killings. “The military is responsible because the killers were wearing military attires,” a source told MMI.

However, testimonies from locals say Separatists dressed in military uniform carried out the attack.

“Some fighters nowadays dress in military uniform to carry out their activities. They sometimes acquire these uniforms when they attack the military. We also have cases where even soldiers pose as separatists.”

“Before firing at the victims, they said the people were all blacklegs,” another source confirmed.

No Separatist group has, however, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Collateral damage

Amongst those shot but survived with wounds are members of a veteran group.

They include the President of the group, a member Pa Chi and a certain Njei Alfred who is in a critical state.

MMI gathered that they were caught by stray bullets from smoking guns.

The three were at Nacho junction with other colleagues when Separatists came to execute their targets.

A member of the veteran group who witnessed the incident said, “They went to Awing quarter, removed people from their houses and ferried them in a vehicle to Nacho junction and executed them. Unfortunately, we were at the junction at that time”

“The president of Njimafor Veteran, Pa Chi and Njei Alfred were all hit by stray bullets. I was seated between them when the president of Njimafor said he has been shot and looked blood was oozing from his legs. We rushed them to the hospital when the fighters left” he narrated adding, “As we speak, the president of Njimafor and Pa Chi are out of danger but Pa Njei Alfred’s situation is very critical”

Reactions

Rights advocates in Cameroon have taken to social media – to condemn ‘the barbaric act’.

Human rights lawyer Nkongho Felix Agbor, founder of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), has said the attack is unacceptable and a “crime against humanity.”

“The indiscriminate killing of more than 8 civilians at Nacho Junction in Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon, is unacceptable. This widespread and systematic killing of civilians is gradually becoming the new normal,” said Nkongho Felix Agbor adding, “We must condemn the perpetrators of these gruesome, inhumane, and dastardly acts in the strongest terms. Human life is sacrosanct, and the combatants must ensure that the civilian population is protected.”

He added that “such killings in an attempt to terrorize the civilian population amounts to a crime against humanity.”

At the time of this report, the corpses of the victims had been deposited at the Regional Hospital mortuary in Bamenda.

Meanwhile, local administrative authorities have not made a statement nor visited the scene of the incident.

Mimi Mefo Info