Panic grips Buea as gunshots heard at Central prison

Deafening gunshots are said to have been heard at the Buea central prison today July 23 after some inmates held the Prison Warders hostage.

Sources says the inmates, a faction of the detained pro-independence activists in the early hours of today were gearing up for protest action against what they termed as “illegal” detention and injustice.

Meanwhile the close to 100 detainees are said to have boycotted the court session this morning in disproval of legal proceedings.

The Governor of the South West Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai visited the Buea central prison to call for calm.

“But this his plea failed to calm flaring tempers” Mimi Mefo Info has learnt.
Soldiers have surrounded the prison to avert any eventuality.
As a result of the heavy gunshots which emanated from the prison yard, the town went dead as frightened locals around the prison vicinity retired home.

economic activities in areas like Clerks quarters, Buea town, Soppo are said to have escaped for safety.
The Great Soppo market equally ended abruptly, we learned from sources on the ground.

Smoke has been emanating from the Buea central prison this evening.

Sources on the ground said there were unconfirmed reports the prison is on fire.

The government is yet to react.

Mimi Mefo Info

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