The cities of Bamenda and Buea remain largely shut down on Tuesday, September 9, as residents observe a separatist-imposed lockdown.
While other parts of the country have resumed school and business activities, Bamenda’s usually bustling Cow Street and its key food markets lie unusually quiet.
A tense calm prevails in both cities. The silence is broken only by the natural sounds of wind through empty streets.
In Buea, the streets of Molyko, the city center, remained largely void of any business activity on Tuesday morning. Very few vehicles could be seen on the streets and barely any student could be seen going to school.
The usual rhythms of daily life—the chatter of markets, the noise of traffic, and the laughter of children—are absent.
Most residents remain indoors, reflecting deep apprehension about potential violence.
Commercial establishments are closed, with doors and windows firmly secured. Public transport has ground to a halt.
