Anglophone Wind of Change:

Kumba: Two protesters shot dead, several injured

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Roads blocks in Kumba

The population of Kumba has this December 9, 2016 added their voice to the Anglophone problem that has been rocking the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon by taking to the streets in a peaceful demonstration. The city dwellers who started the demonstration at the BICEC junction in Kumba mounted barricades at the junction stopping the circulation of all vehicles be it taxis or private.

                The demonstration which was led by bike riders awakened the spirit of other Kumba city dwellers who later joint in the peaceful protest, marching across the entire city of Kumba. This demonstration The Median learnt was led by bike riders as solidarity with their fellow bike riders in the Northwest region of the country who were brutalized in the strike action in that part of the country.

                The protesters carried placards with messages saying no to marginalization of Anglophones in the country as well as no to police brutality. The protest match was closely monitored by elements of the national Gendarmerie and police as well as the military and later turned violent resulting to the dead of two persons. According to other protesters, the dead was as a result of direct shooting from the forces of law and order those who were at the forefront of the protest. Equally, several others were severely injured as a result of changes between them and the uniform men. The uniform officers tried relentlessly to unblock the major areas of the town where barricades were mounted to ensure circulation but to no avail.

                The protest however led to the closure of all markets in the town of Kumba and all businesses beside the road. Even the uniform officers were affected as all those who answered present at the central police stationed in Kumba to acquire the national identity cards were sent back home. There was no major destruction of property except for the tables of road side vendors that the protesters used as road blocks.

                Early Saturday morning, calm was returned by the forces of law and order with deployment of troops from Buea in all major road junctions in Kumba to ensure city dwellers go about with their activities.