Muyuka Town: the land of brutal killings

Killings, kidnappings, burnings, and outright destruction have been recorded in towns and villages in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, since 2016 when the Anglophone crisis took a violent phase.

Despite these, some conflict-hit areas have, unfortunately, distinguished themselves as scenes of gruesome inhumane acts. Happenings there, have attracted national and international sympathy and condemnations.

The town of Muyuka situated along Buea/Kumba high way in the South west region of Cameroon is one of the places considered ‘a no go zone’ given military – separatists battles on a daily bases.

The world is yet to come to terms with the gruesome slaughtering of a woman Tuesday, August 11th, 2020. A Cameroon-based NGO, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy for Africa in a release on Wednesday said Ambazonian fighters were responsible.

A 26-second video emerged on social media showing how the lady was butchered by the boys who were armed with machetes. They pulled the body of the woman to the street after committing the act and told her to “go to hell”.

Separatist leaders in the diaspora have denied any involvement of their fighters in the incident while attributing it to what they call a group of killers created and sponsored by some politicians of the Yaounde regime. They further said the alleged killers originate from Fako division in the South West.

On May 20th, 2019, a four-month-old baby was shot dead by government soldiers. Though the family of baby Mbuh Martha incessantly accused the Cameroon military of killing their baby, the government issued an official statement denying such act – saying that its soldiers have remained professional.

To the government, separatist fighters committed the act to revenge the fact that Martha’s father abandoned the course of fighting for their independence.

The killing of the baby in Muyuka many say remains the most pathetic act as an innocent baby could not live to see her first birthday.

A mention of Muyuka anywhere immediately reminds Catholic Christians and Cameroonians of the shooting to death of Reverend Father Alexandre Sob Nougi. The former Catholic education secretary was slain by what was describe as “stray bullets” as he traveled from Buea to Kumba for pastoral activities.

Besides these incidents and running gun battles have continued in the now deserted town of Muyuka unabated. “There is no police post again in Muyuka. Amba boys chased them away. Several houses including government buildings have been set ablaze by the boys”. A resident of Muyuka tells Mimi Mefo Info on phone.

Observers say accusations and counter-accusations between the government and the separatists on who is responsible for atrocities committed in the area do not bring back lives lost, nor repair property destroyed. They called for an inclusive dialogue as a solution to the prolonged crisis.

“It will not only save the population of Muyuka but the two Anglophone regions and the entire country,” retorted and English-speaking resident who has been a victim of the 4-year-long crisis.

(C) Mimi Mefo Info.