Panic Grips K’ba as ‘Amba Boys’ Signal their Presence

For close to two weeks now the villages of Kake I, Kake II and Dika in Kumba I Sub-Division, Mbalangi and Ediki in Mbonge Sub-Division and some areas in Konye Sub-Division, all in Meme of the Southwest Region have been grounded by the ongoing Anglophone crisis with cases of constant gunshots, kidnappings, burnings, lootings and constant fleeing of villagers into bushes; swelling up the number of internally displaced persons in this part of the country.

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Amba boys signal their presence in Kumba with all-night gunshots

Constant gun battles between Cameroons defense and security forces and soldiers of the ‘Ambazonia’ deense forces have left inhabitants of Kumba, chief town of Meme Division in a constant state of fear and alert to escape to safer zones of the town when need be.

            For close to two weeks now, Kumba city dwellers have lived with the thundering sound of gunshots from the nearby villages of Kake I, Kake II and Diffa all in Kumba I sub-division. These inhabitants go to bed to the frightening sound of the thousand gunshots and wake up with the urgent blast of bullets that sound like bombs. This leaves many sleepless. For the past five days, the frightful sounds of gunshots has been in intervals of about 45 minutes seemingly approaching like a hurricane as described by a Kumba city dweller.

            As the population begin becoming use to the daily sounds of gunshots few metres from their homes, more displaced families from villages like Kake I, Kake II, Diffa, Ediki, Mbalangi and other villages in Kumba I and Mbonge sub-divisions respectively have been trooping into Kumba. This evident in the faces of aged mothers running barefooted into streets in Kumba with bags of cloths at the sound of approaching gunshots and military vehicles. 

            The fear is also very noticeably painted on the faces of youths hawking boiled groundnuts, as they eye the approaching fleet of masked military men brandishing massive guns, seated behind trucks, staring with cerise eyes send children fleeing for their dear lives, dropping their trays until they reach safer areas. Those who can’t make it to Kumba are crowded all over bushes with reports of heavily pregnant women, old mothers, new born babies and children.

            Analyzing the situation, many say Kumba has arguably been surrounded by the ‘Amba’ hit and run soldiers. This is so as the Kumba-Buea highway has become a dead trap with sundry battles grounds around the villages of Mbalangi and Ediki. Travelers now have to say prayers before getting into buses following reported cases of kidnappings on the way.

            In the same light the Kumba-Mamfe road passing through Konye sub-division is also becoming worst following the tensions from the area as Kumba I sub-division has been under severe gunshots for weeks now. This situation leaves central Kumba in the middle, surrounded by makeshift ‘Amba’ battle grounds.