Youths in Menka, a village in the Pinyin area of Cameroon’s North West Region, have increased their efforts to protect their community. This follows multiple attacks by separatist fighters.
On the night of Tuesday, April 29, breaking into Wednesday, April 30, gunmen believed to be from Pinyin invaded Menka and abducted six young men. In response, local youths organised a search and rescue operation.
Efforts to Free the Kidnapped Youths
The youths pursued the attackers, despite coming under gunfire. “As we chased them, they were firing shots at us, but we were determined to get back our brothers and to let the separatists know they have no place in Menka,” said Khan, one of the youths involved in the pursuit.
During the operation, one of the abducted youths managed to escape, while the remaining five were taken away. Following the incident, local search efforts continued and led to the release of the remaining captives by the morning of May 1.
Context of Ongoing Attacks
This kidnapping is part of a series of incidents that have affected Menka in recent months. The village has faced frequent attacks from separatist groups operating out of Pinyin. Many residents have been abducted, tortured, or killed, and the village’s traditional leader, the Fon of Menka, was also kidnapped and taken to Pinyin in an earlier incident.
“The youths of Menka have been resilient throughout this crisis,” said a local informant. “Since the beginning of the conflict, the village has endured numerous attacks, and we’ve lost many people, including our FON.”
Planned Retaliation and Caution
In response to the latest kidnapping, approximately 200 youths from Menka reportedly planned to go to Pinyin for an offensive attack against the separatists. However, they were advised against taking action due to the heavily armed separatists. “The question is, how can we confront people who are heavily armed?” said one youth leader.
The Brigade Commander and Santa’s District Officer (DO) are aware of the situation and the youths’ intentions.
Recovery of Stolen Solar Panels
In another development, separatists recently attacked a telecommunications construction site in Menka, dismantling solar-powered antennas and stealing solar panels. The youths of Menka located and recovered the stolen panels on May 1.
Increased Insecurity in the Region
This recent series of attacks highlights the continued insecurity in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions. The crisis has been affected by separatist violence for several years. Many locals believe that the instability is linked to broader political and territorial disputes, including ongoing chieftaincy talks.
