Re-visiting Southern Cameroon war of Independence
The Aggression and Vengeance
The Anglophone war of Independence has degenerated to score settling as many arm men takes advantage of the arm conflict in the Southern Regions of the Cameroons. The rise of insecurity in Bamenda – City center is alarming as now many factors have contributed to this, ranging from the high cost of living given the recent fuel price increased by the Biya regime in Yaounde. This, Seen by many Cameroonians as gross violations of civil rights and respect to its citizens, an act of incompetent in governance. A nation dotted in wealth and rich with natural resources cannot be given notice as the leaders’ mare the wealth for their family and friends. This living the low and common Cameroonians households under pressure as demands cannot be met. This not lacking the pressure from Ambazonian Guerilla fighters further makes the situation worse for families to survive from the high tax levied on families as their contribution for the liberation and Independence of the people of Southern Cameroons.
These actions has in a way promoted and fastened continued torture on armless civilians with ongoing maiming and kidnapping for ransom, by both military and amba fighters, putting many undetermined of the hope and future of their children. Government unwillingness to solving the conflict undermines good governance policies and the rule of law in the country, giving rise to gruesome murder, rape and the disappearance of many without any report of their existence.
This arm conflict in the Northwest and Southwest Regions have been ongoing now for over eight years with government negligence in resolving the root causes of the war. This has given room for Amba Guerillas to pour out their venom on the population they claimed are fighting to protect and to give them freedom from French Cameroons. Thousands of homes have been set ablaze, rendering families homeless with nothing to survive on. Children are unable to attend school with numerous challenges as a result of displacement.
Many disabled persons and those of age who barely depends on help from family and friends have been cut off from these help and died in flames. This has been noted in Big Babanki, Bui, and many other villages in the two regions. Many of these stories are still to be told by survivals of the aggression and Vengeance of the Amba Guerillas.
One victim, Awa Ngu Brandon a master student by then, at the university of Bamenda as revealed by his classmates of his disappearance and subsequent closure. How he suffered mental abnormality from Amba Guerillas aggression when his parents were brutally murdered and burnt and the family compound set ablaze on the 25th of September 2020 at mile 8 Mankon, happening at a time of school resumption amidst lockdown as declared by the Guerillas fighters. This witnessed the maiming and kidnapping of innocence civilians and subsequently killed as black legs working with French Cameroons military. This, as if the actions and the psychological torture were not enough, the arm gun men have continued to hunt him giving restlessness for so long. 'He' has been on the run and his where about is unknown as declared by his class mates at the university of Bamenda to the alternative media. ”we have not been in contact with 'Him' ever since he lost his parents and the Brother who was a soldier with the Cameroon Amy. He was shot dead by Amba Guerillas during confrontation in North West Region. We are in fear and confused about our classmate and friend but hope that we will find him someday and if not let God be God.”
There are countless stories that need to be told by many families in the arm conflict Regions. Government efforts should be encouraged to take steps in resolving and to bring an end to this war in the Southern Regions of Cameroon with lasting solutions.
Here are some stories told by some few survivals in the ongoing arm conflict in the northwest and southwest Regions of Cameroon in their own words.
Mama Mary talks to this media group of her condition now after the gruesome murder of her husband in Nso by the government soldiers “My husband was burnt in the house alive by soldiers. He was a patient and paralyzed and could not walk by himself until helped by someone. This happened so fast while I and my four children had gone to the farm for harvest of food items to sell the following market day, just for us to come and find out that, the was not even our kitchen standing, everywhere was ashes and the flames so hot that I could not get in to the house to save my sick husband. He was already caught up with the flames and got burnt beyond recognition. Today we are in total misery having nowhere to go with this hard time. My children are unable to attend school for lack of money. The military claimed that my husband knew where the Amba fighters lived and that he, my husband was an informant to the Amba fighters. This is not true at all; all we know is that they hated us by burning down our compound and taking a way the life of my poor husband.”
Ma Mary had relocated to the city of Bamenda and living in one small room with her four kids. They are unable to carter for their needs as they are now facing the challenges of being displaced by the arm conflict in the English speaking Regions of the Cameroons.
Meet another agonizing house wife, displaced from Boyo, in Belo subdivision. Madam Susan Nain. “My house was burnt down with everything inside, my children’s birth certificates, I D. cards and all our dresses. We survive because we escaped to the bush where we stayed under trees and rocks for three weeks .On our way back, we only found that our compound had been brought down by fire. I have 6 [six] children caring for them alone .My husband was killed by some soldiers who came to our house that night and demanded him to show them the hiding place of the Amba fighter’s. When he could not, he was shot right in front of the house. We had escaped through the back door into the bush that night. I am living in Bamenda with my six [6] children. we are unable to feed well due to hard times ,things are so expensive and I don’t have the money .I need help, I need help, I need help else we will die” .Exclaimed by this poor widow .
Alternative News