By Tata Mbunwe
A bike rider who is yet to be identified by MMI was shot dead in Buea this morning and a taxi got burnt in an attack carried out by persons believed to be separatist fighters.
The attacks occurred at the Mile 16 and Mile 14 neighborhoods, both of which are outskirts localities that have witnessed several separatist attacks in the past.
Buea residents, particularly those living around Mile 17, Bomaka, Muea, and Mile 16 reported hearing heavy gunfire this morning before later realizing the aftermath of the shooting.
The bike rider was killed at Mile 14 (Dibanda) and his bike set ablaze, while a taxi that was reportedly heading to the farm for burnt at Mile 16 (Bolifamba). The driver’s life was spared, MMI gathered.
In an amateur video that circulated online, a group of gun wielding men who identified as the Fako black star forces claimed responsibility for the shootings.
The attacks breathed fear in the city of Buea, adding to the usual scare associated with Mondays, which are usually marked by lockdowns.
The attack came just one week after three policemen were killed at Bwitingi, Buea, while doing a night shift.
Amid these incidents, authorities believe the South West regional capital is safe for schools to resume next Monday.
The Commander of the 5th Military Region, which covers the South West and Litoral Regions, Eba Eba Benoit, was in Buea last Tuesday to cement the security framework ahead of back-to-school.
He also visited the spot where three policement lost their lives days earlier.
On the heels of General Eba Eba’s visit, the Governor of the South West, Bernard Okalia Bilai, remarked that insecurity was no longer a threat in the Region and all groundwork had been laid for a safe school resumption.
Despite the visible improvement in security, the Governor’s conclusion appears to have been overstated, as lockdowns and separatist attacks continue to disrupt normal activities in the Region.
As the new academic year closes in, there are fears of increased attacks by separatists, who have used lockdowns and armed attacks to constrain previous school resumptions.
