Fallout of Anglophone Crisis:

Kumba Flooded with ‘Refugees’ from Mbonge, Konye, Ndian 

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

The town of Kumba, chief town of Meme Division has witnessed an unprecedented explosion due to the influx of people escaping violence and insecurity in villages and sub-divisions in Meme and beyond.

            The mass influx of persons follows the carnage and ongoing mayhem witnessed in villages across Mbonge and Konye Sub-Divisions in Meme, Nguti Sub-Division in Kupe Muanenguba Division, Ndian Division and parts of Muyuka in Fako Division of the Southwest Region.

            Some of the displaced persons who have flooded Kumba told The Median on condition of anonymity that all their houses in the villages in these affected areas have been burnt down by the military leaving them with no other option than to migrate to Kumba where there is relative calm and security.

            Others said with the coming of the rainy season life in the bushes where they were hiding at first has become incommodious and unbearable forcing them to seek safer sanctuary in Kumba.

            Some explained that they could have as well returned to their villages but all the houses have been burnt down by the government forces in their reprisals against the activities of Ambazonia fighters. 

            Several villages have been seriously affected by the crisis that has turned violent as a result of deadly clashes between the military and separatist fighters. In Mbonge and Konye subdivisions for example villages including Big Nguandi, Kumu-Kumu, Dipenda, Kombone Town, Bole Bakundu, Boa Bakundu, Kwa-Kwa, Ngongo, Mofako Butu, Bombele, Diene, Dipenda Bakundu, Mbonge Mateke, three corners Bekondo, as well as some homes along the road leading to big Masaka have been razed by fire allegedly set by the security forces.

            Unconfirmed reports said the military recently invaded the villages of Bakumba, Bokosso, Mondongo, Muelli and Muyenge Trouble all in Mbonge sub-division. Concordant reports talked of serious shootings, burnings and looting by soldiers.

            In Konye sub-division, the village of Dikomie Bafaw also witnessed burning of some houses after a Dangote truck was reportedly burnt down by unknown persons.

Soldiers Feared Dead In Konye

            A soldier was reportedly shot by unknown gunmen as he accompanied a timber truck along the Kumba-Mamfe road in Konye Sub-Division. Reports said the timber truck was attacked by masked gunmen who shot at the driver of the truck and the soldier who was providing him with security. The two incurred severe injuries, we learned. But we could not independently confirm whether or not the two men survived the bullet wounds.

            Also, a Gendarmerie officer popularly called Chef Bang was shot dead in Konye at a drinking spot after the generator supplying electricity at a drinking spot reportedly went off. Sources in Konye said the Gendarme officer was noted for ‘terrorizing and intimidating’ the population and boasting how he cannot be hurt by the separatists fighters.

            Other reports said the gendarme was killed in retaliation to the killing of an Amba fighter a week before, in Konye, when the separatists attacked the Konye Gendarmerie post.