Mamfe: Attackers kill, rape and kidnap locals
Aside from the killing of more than 30 civilians in Manyu: More than 30 die in Amba attack – Cameroon News Agency, at least 15 people were kidnapped on Monday, November 6, 2023, in Egbekaw, Mamfe town in Manyu Division of the South West region, CNA correspondent who visited the site said.
The attackers were heavily armed and came for a particular set of people, “Where are those Akwaya and Boki people,” a survivor narrated the first words that came from their mouths when they broke into her house.
“Around 3 AM we heard echoes of gunshots, but we thought they were normal because we are used to hearing such sounds. But suddenly I heard on my door, they shouted, ‘Who is here’, and I said, It is my brother, and they said, did my mother not show me all my brothers,” a lady who survived the incident narrated to CNA.
They started beating me on the floor and when my child intervened begging them, crying that I was not feeling well, they ‘swept’ him on the floor and held a gun to my head threatening to shoot- one person said he would shoot ‘the bagga’, shoot the bagga, shoot the bagga another shouted from outside.” ( bagga in colloquial language means ‘useless thing’)
“Another one said if you are wasting time, give me that gun let me fire the bagga,” the lady continued. In the end, the family was saved by a stroke of luck, as another fighter came from outside and asked the family to run away.
As they ran, the attackers set their home on fire.
The Diocese of Mamfe condemned the attacks, describing them as barbaric and inhumane. Bishop Aloysius Abangalo shall celebrate a holy mass service at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral Church to pray for the departed souls.
Cameroon News Agency’s correspondent who visited the site of the incident during the visit of the Bishop of Mamfe, Aloysius Fondong, confirmed earlier reports that fingers were pointed at Separatist fighters who are sons from the same village Egbekaw and they knew every house and who lived in it.
“Just as we confirmed they were cases of rape, children and elderly killed, both men and women of working age killed, we confirmed the number over 30 persons were killed, some are still in the hospital recovering from wounds and those who were burned beyond recognition could be identified because of their houses.” CNA correspondent told the central newsroom.
The population of Egbekaw gathered to welcome the Bishop of Mamfe and his delegation.
More than 20 houses were set on fire as the attackers moved from door to door, looking for a particular set of people, but it later affected even those who were not targetted because, in the end, the commander of the group told his men to shoot anything they see, because “If we start looking for Boki and Akwaya people it will delay us,” our correspondent narrated stories told by survivors.
“They are children from Egbekaw, they are separatist fighters, we should not mince words,” a witness said.
The government has not reacted but several political figures have condemned the act, including former Presidential aspirant, Barrister Akere Muna, who described the attackers as “wicked spirits who now haunt the North West and the South West regions of Cameroon, bringing nothing but misery upon their own people.”
I had promised myself that I would refrain from writing about the horrors, chaos, and mayhem inflicted by these wicked spirits who now haunt the North West and the South West regions of Cameroon, bringing nothing but misery upon their own people. Guzang was heartless and beyond… pic.twitter.com/HsTK2A5Orx
— Akere Muna (@AkereMuna) November 6, 2023
Omam Esther, the Director fo Reach Out Cameroon expressed sadness and asked a rhetorical question, who will protect us?
Why? Why do you keep killing us? Who will fight for us?
— Omam Esther (@Reachoutreo) November 6, 2023
Who will protect us? The pain is unbearable.#Manfe #Egbekaw bleeds.
We are getting reports of about 52 persons so far killed and 12 houses burnt to ashes in Egbekaw village.
Where did we go wrong? Why ? pic.twitter.com/who0K38aFp
