At least five unarmed civilians killed in a local beer bar in Bamenda, the North West Region of Cameroon
3 min read
Closed to five years of the ongoing armed conflict in the North West and South-West regions of Cameroon have continued to claim the lives of unarmed civilians caught between the military and separatist fighters. At least 5000 persons have reportedly been killed in the troubled regions directly by the bullets and thousands are dying because of lack of health facilities and malnutrition.
On Sunday 18 April 2021, five unarmed civilians were killed in Mile 90, a locality between Bamenda and Bali Ngyonga, in the North West region of Cameroon. The killings took place in a local bar where they were drinking. The perpetrators of the act remained unknown. The shootouts between the military and Ambazonian fighters have continued to cost the lives of unarmed civilians in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. The recent case of Mile 90 is coming to add to the pain and sufferings of the masses.
Reports say that they were killed during a battle/shootout in the local beer bar between the military and armed separatists. Some locals believe that the act was allegedly committed by the military, others believe that the act was committed by the armed separatist while some say that the act was a result of a shootout between the military and armed separatists.
Those who believe that the unarmed civilians were killed as a result of a shootout between Cameroon military and separatists fighters say that one separatist fighter was caught in the area wherein others were alerted. The other armed separatists reportedly came to rescue their colleague which resulted in the shootout between them. Some who accuses the armed separatists says that the fighters have warned the owner of the bar against welcoming military men to the area.
Some people accuse the military of the death of five unarmed civilians. As reported by Mimi Mefo Info, “Some say separatist fighters were in the locality and there was a set up to kill the separatist fighters… This, he stated, is because a separatist fighter was caught in the area and forced to call his friends so they be caught too……When they came to rescue the fighter that was shot, the gunshots increased and the separatist fighters ran away. They say the military then shot dead the people that were in the bar,” he explains further….” The horrific video circulating online shows the five lifeless bodies of unarmed civilians in the bar. the people could be heard in the three minutes and fifteen seconds video circulated online blaming the military for the act.
Reports from several media houses and witnesses are coming up with different versions of the story about the incident. For now, we cannot ascertain who committed the atrocious act
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
