By Kate Bih
Early this Saturday morning, activities in Ntarikon were disrupted as armed men, alleged to be separatist fighters, attempted to instill chaos, eyewitnesses reported.
The assailants, who arrived on motorbikes from the Behind Che direction, stormed the Che Street, opening fire indiscriminately.
“They came firing at ground level. I had to take off, abandoning my goods,” recounted one trader who was present when the gunfire erupted.
Another witness added, “I saw them fire at a taxi, and the driver fled, reversing at high speed. The oil leakage on the tar is from that vehicle.”
This sentiment was echoed by several locals, who pointed out the damage caused by the incident.
The attackers reportedly tried to set taxis ablaze on Che Street but were unsuccessful.
Fortunately, they did not reach the crowded Ntarikon market, where many would have been affected. It is believed that the armed men made their escape through the Ni John Entrance at Ntarikon.
“We are only grateful that they did not kill anyone, as has often been the case. They only fired a bullet through a vehicle parked by the roadside at the Brasseries Junction,” a resident said, expressing relief.
Despite the resumption of circulation along the stretch, the community remains on edge, grappling with panic and uncertainty.
The motive behind this early morning attack remains unclear, leaving residents to wonder about the safety of their routines and livelihoods.
Separatists have orchestrated a wave of attacks on commercial taxis and other private vehicles in Bamenda in an attempt to force drivers to change their vehicle colors from yellow to blue and white.
The attacks have frustrated several vehicle owners, and plunged many into distress.
