Worsening Insecurity:

Ambazonia Gunmen block Kumba-Buea Highway

-Villagers run for their lives as government forces go for the gunmen

Ambazonia Gunmen say they are planning an attack on Buea

A heavy and lengthy gunfire exchange was reported as ensuing between gunmen supposedly belonging to the separatist Ambazonia Defence Force, and government forces, in the localities of Ediki and Mbalangi along the Kumba-Buea highway on Friday.

            The reports said gunmen emerging from the UNALOR forest reserve fired shots in the air and blocked the circulation of vehicles along the highway passing through the area.

            The gunmen used tree stems and huge stones to block the road making it difficult for an intervention battalion of government soldiers to go through the area, it was reported.

            Stranded, the soldiers opened fire indiscriminately in the direction of the gunmen. The gunmen also responded from their vantage position in the nearby forest. Villagers say the gun exchange lasted for several hours.

            Some sources said one soldier was killed in the gunfire exchange. It added that many incurred serious wounds on both sides. We could not confirm the reports at press time yesterday.

            The government media that used to give the official version of events on the battle field has since stopped doing so. Not even the military spokesman now makes any public comments on happenings on the field. 

            But concordant reports said stranded soldiers descended on the villages of Ediki and Mbalangi, forcing villagers to flee into the bushes. Some have sought refuge in towns in Fako division and in Douala, we learned.

            In a bid to fish out the gunmen, soldiers set houses ablaze and broke into others, the reports said.

            The Median has been informed that many residents in Ediki, Balangi and other localities along the Kumba-Buea highway have escaped to Douala following an announcement by a group calling itself the “Bakossi Ambazonia Defence force” to launch an attack on Buea and other towns in Fako Division anytime as from the 20th of this month.

            Meanwhile, soldiers were Friday also reported to have raided some localities in Fontem, in Lebialem division also setting some houses on fire. Villagers are said to have moved to safer localities.