Days after a series of raids across villages in the Anglophone regions by members of the armed forces, one more civilian has been killed in Malende, South West region.
“It’s was at about 1PM [yesterday] when the military got to Malende – Muyuka. They came in private cars and some in their jeeps” an eyewitness told MMI.
“Some” the source explained “went into the streets and other took cover at the roadside and some hours later this civilian was shot point blank.”
Another civilian is said to have been shot today in Mbalangi market still in the South West region.
“Two private cars pulled by and men in civil wear stepped out with automatic rifles” another source explained. Youths who stood in front of a phone shop some of whom are Internally Dislaced Persons, IDPs immediately took off in fear of the unknown. Seeing them take off, “the military opened fire and one person got shot by 4 bullet shots and is currently under medical attention” the source added. This residents say brings the number if civilian deaths in the area to about 10 this week alone.
In a related development, residents of the area have complained about what they say is exploitation by the forces. This they say is done by carrying our massive arrests of especially males and demanding huge amounts for their release.
“They know the cocoa season has come and they are making fast money by extorting the people” a villager told MMI.
While the forces of law and order have said nothing about the claims yet, such complaints against them had been on the rise especially since the escalation of the Anglophone Crisis into an armed conflict.
