Hundreds of residents of Kwak, a village in Nwa subdivision, in Cameroon’s North West region are fleeing a new wave of violence.
Unlike before, they are not escaping due to the four year old armed conflict in the North West and South West region.
Over the last weeks, attacks on them by supposed government-backed militias have witnessed an increase.
With government’s indifference to multiplied attacks that have seen some killed, others injured and property destroyed, locals have been left with no choice than to flee.
“The [fleeing] population made up of mostly children,” MMI is informed, “has just passed Mfe moving to the D.O of Nwa”.
Informed of the violence weeks back, administrative authorities have remained mute over the incident, leaving the population in the hands of the weapon-wielding assailants.
“The administration is really quite with out a word” says a native of the locality who adds that “our brothers and sisyers and kids of Kwak village have been threatened by the fulanis and they have left the village…”.
The militia made up of predominantly herdsmen is said t have been armed by government to combat separatist fighters. Several months on, the movement is said to have taken a different turn, diverting its efforts to harming locals who are predominantly farmers, a continuation of earlier farmer-grazier disputes.
The prolonged silence by government forces has not made matters any easier, and has been interpreted as support for the cause.
Mimi Mefo Info
