Three Killed, Shops Looted As Cameroon Military Raids Chomba, Bali

About three Civilians have been killed in Bali, a hot spot in the ongoing armed conflict in the restive North West and South West Regions of Cameroon.

One of the victims, a young man said to be mentally unstable was killed at the market when slodiers stormed the area running after the population.

Food items and other articles taken to the market were carried away while some were damaged by the military men.

Two other civilians were also killed in Bossa, still in Bali Sub Division by the Cameroon military.

Men, women and children were given serious beatings and asked to show where separatist fighters were hiding.

Homes and shops were also looted in the raids and what the people had prepared to take to the market were carried away by the soldiers including huge sums of money.

“On their way to Bossa village, they got into a bar and drank to their satisfaction. On their way back, they realized that, the bar owner had emptied the bar. They got angry and destroyed the chairs and tables including empty beer bottles and crates,” an eye witness said.

The raids also affected Chomba, a village located along the Bamenda- Bali road about 11Km away.

Reports say, soldiers invaded the village as early as 2:00am, smashing doors and arresting people. People were given snake beatings with many still missing as of the time of this report.

According to a victim whom we are not naming for fear of reprisal attacks, flat screen television sets, money and other valuables were taken away from people’s homes despite presenting valid receipts.

He furthered that, one of the military men told him his flat screen TV was to be sent to his wife in Akoloninga.

“I tried without any success to negotiate but he turned his gun on me and said my television was going his wife and son in Akonolinga and that, I should not border looking for it,” the victim said adding that, “Provision stores were also looted and what they could not carry were destroyed.”

We also gathered that the aim of the raids was to get rid of Ambazonia fighters who had placed a ban on circulation along the Bamenda-Bali road in response to the ban on motor bikes by the North West administration.

We have not been able to confirm reports that, some soldiers may have lost their lives as a result of the raids.

The population however thinks that the roads can never be opened with the use of force.

To them, all the roadblocks can be cleared, but it will take a driver on a suicide mission to dare drive on that road still under separatist blockade.