By Boris Esono in Buea
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Deserted Mile 18 streets as Amba forces
The population of Buea last Friday June 29 were thrown
into pandemonium as cross gunfire between security forces and persons believed
to be “Amba” forces rocked the neighborhoods of Mile 16-Bolifamba and Mile 18.
Reports said the announced arrival of the French Minister of African Affairs to
Buea might have pushed the Amba boys to fire shots to indicate their presence
in the SW capital.
The
French Minister was coming to size up the situation of the ongoing crisis in
the NW and SW. He was programmed to meet with administrative and security
officials, as well as with civil society actors, we learned.
But
until press time yesterday, we could not confirm whether or not the French
envoy finally came to town. Our usually reliable sources said he did not come
after all. It is believed the security threats might have forced him to cancel
the trip.
Sounds
of gunshots riddled the air in the Mile 16 and Mile 18 localities leaving
residents and commuters driving across the areas in panic. Some escaped to
mainland Buea for safety.
Shops,
bars and business premises around Molyko were all closed down for fear of the
unknown.
No
casualty was reported throughout the crossfire that started at about 2.30pm
local time and lasted several hours.
Known to
have carried their attacks to the until now peaceful and quiet Fako division,
the Amba boys have not yet claimed responsibility for the gunfire.
Just a
few weeks ago, some unknown gunmen linked to the Amba forces stormed the town
of Mutengene killing one gendarme and kidnapping two others.
Government
forces have for months running been entangled in fierce gun battles with
fighters said to be clamouring for independence of Southern Cameroons.
Scores
of people have been killed in the SW and NWRs due to the crisis which has been
going on for some one year now. In late June 2018, the Cameroonian government
claimed that more than 120 soldiers and policemen had died since the start of
the conflict.
At the
end of 2017, the separatists declared a school boycott and has attacked and
burnt down schools that refused to shut down. Between February 2017 and May
2018 reports say at least 42 schools were targeted. Meantime the army has
repeatedly denied allegations that it has also been involved in the burning
down of houses especially in the NWR.
The army has claimed that the soldiers who were filmed carrying
out that act were separatists wearing stolen Army uniforms, a claimed denied by
local residents. Reports also indicate that Journalists have also been denied
entry to the conflict zones, while soldiers have also been forbidden to carry
along mobile phones.
By
January 2018, about 15,000 people had fled from the NW and SW to Nigeria while
the number increased to 40,000 people to February.
The
present crisis has had a huge impact on the economic and financial consequence
in the regions. In June 2018, Cameroon Development Corporation, (now
privatized) with 22,000 employees declared the conflict could lead to the loss
of 5,000 jobs on the short term.
At the
moment, the atmosphere seems to have gone back to normal as the population has
continued with their various activities.
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