Suspected separatists burn down house of former Mamfe mayor

The house of Ayuk John Takunchong, former mayor of Mamfe in Cameroon’s South West Region has been set ablaze.

The house was set ablaze by men believed to be separatist fighters clamoring for the independence of the English-speaking regions of the country.

The arsonists, locals say, accompanied the burning with heavy gunshots, leaving residents scared and indoors.

It is suggested that the former Mayor’s home was set ablaze due to an audio message he made currently circulating on social media.

In the said audio, the politician dug up old wounds, accusing separatist leader, Eric Tataw of several human rights violations.

“As a former mayor of the Mamfe municipality, I know the number of our misguided children whose lives I’ve saved. I know at least 89 Manyu sons and daughters who have been executed in the most barbaric fashion by our children, the so-called overnight generals, and Ambazonian soldiers,” he declared.

He went on to list multiple atrocities carried out in the South West Region, decrying what he said was the indifference of civilians: “Yes, we are all staying mute. We the civilian population are not doing anything to end this crisis. We only blame it on the government.”

“Make no mistake, Ambazonian terrorism is a friend to none. Ambazonian terrorism is an indiscriminate time bomb waiting to attack all,” he added.

While it remains uncertain if the audio is the reason why suspected separatists torched the politician’s house, it is similar to many other happenings in the past years.

Several officials and civilians have been abducted and even tortured by separatists, for sharing opposing views.