Renewed tension and palpable fear have gripped residents of Bamenda, particularly in the Bamenda II Subdivision. This follows the horrifying discovery of multiple corpses scattered across various parts of the city early on the morning of Sunday, April 6, 2025. Many say this is linked to the Anglophone crisis.
The lifeless bodies were found at key and highly visible locations. Some of the corpses were found at the busy Hospital Roundabout, the Food Market, the commercial hub of Brasserie Junction, and the Mile 90 area, all within the Bamenda II subdivision.
The gruesome scenes left passersby and business operators in a state of shock. Many have therefore been expressing deep unease and hesitating to go about their normal routines. “I saw one near the market,” recounted a market vendor who wished to remain anonymous. “His hands were tied behind him with rope, and there were clear bullet holes in his chest. It was a terrible sight, something no one should ever see.”
Targeted Executions?
Eyewitness accounts corroborated the initial observations. They describe the bodies as being bound, with hands secured tightly behind their backs and multiple bullet wounds clearly visible on their bodies. Several witnesses suggested the manner of the injuries pointed to targeted executions. “They were shot at close range, you could see,” claimed a resident near Brasserie Junction who only gave his first name, Samuel. “It looks like they were just brought here and finished off.”
One of the victims was reportedly identified by local residents as a known separatist fighter. Sources confirmed that this individual had been apprehended by security forces on Saturday, April 5th, 2025, at Che Street. “Yes, I saw them arrest him yesterday,” stated a shopkeeper from Che Street. “They accused him of trying to collect ‘tax’ from a shop. They beat him badly right there before taking him away in their van.”
According to information obtained from sources familiar with the incident, the individual was indeed caught while allegedly attempting to extort money from a local business. Eyewitnesses further claim the suspect was subjected to severe torture at the scene of his arrest before being transported by the security forces to an undisclosed location.
Unconfirmed Claims and Calls for Justice
As of now, no group or security unit has officially claimed responsibility for the killings. However, our monitoring of social media has found that some pro-government pages have been actively circulating claims that the deceased are “eight Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF) neutralised by our brave security forces.” These claims have not been officially confirmed by government authorities or the military.
The sight of multiple corpses left exposed in public spaces has ignited serious concerns among the local population and human rights observers.
“Seeing bodies just left like that, it raises serious questions,” commented a community leader who preferred not to be named for fear of reprisal. “If these were indeed arrested individuals, what happened? Where is the due process? This looks like extrajudicial killings, and it speaks volumes about the lack of accountability in our region.”
Local authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the discovery of the bodies. However, the deeply disturbing scenes have galvanised many within the city to voice their demands for transparency and justice. There are also calls for a definitive end to the cycle of violence that continues to plague the region and instil constant fear in the lives of ordinary citizens.
