Escalating insecurity plagues Bambili, residents cry for help

By Wilson Musa

Bamenda, North West Region – The once-peaceful town of Bambili, a key academic hub in the North West Region, is facing a rapidly deteriorating security situation, with a surge in violent attacks causing widespread fear and displacement. A recent open letter to the Governor of the North West Region, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, paints a grim picture of a community under siege, with residents feeling abandoned and betrayed by security forces.

The letter, written by a concerned youth of Tubah Subdivision, details a series of recent violent incidents:

• On April 27, 2025, a teacher was killed.
• On May 1, 2025, the Branch Manager of Moghamo Travel Agency was killed near a Gendarmerie unit, where no intervention took place.
• On May 3, 2025, the Fon of Bambili’s palace was attacked, resulting in another death.
• On the same day, the Mayor of Tubah survived an attack at his hotel, and the General Manager of UNVDA was attacked at his residence, with a civilian casualty.

The letter emphasizes that these are not isolated incidents but a pattern of escalating violence that has destabilized Bambili, home to over 34,000 students from the University of Bamenda. The situation has led to parents withdrawing their children from schools, students living in fear, and the local economy crumbling.

A key point of contention in the letter is the alleged inaction and complicity of local security forces. The Bambili Gendarmerie Unit is accused of prioritizing extortion over protection, while GPIN forces stationed at the University of Bamenda are criticized for their passivity during the recent attacks on key officials.

The letter urges the Governor to take immediate action, proposing several emergency measures:

• Deployment of a military base at IRAD Bafokum and Bambui.
• Establishment of a military post at Mile 11.
• Replacement of the heads of the Gendarmerie and Police in Tubah.
• An emergency security consultation involving community stakeholders.
• Imposition of a night-time curfew or bike ban.
• Establishment and training of community-based vigilante groups under military supervision.
• Installation of drone surveillance and CCTV systems.

The letter concludes with a passionate appeal, stressing the humanitarian nature of the crisis and the potential consequences for the entire region if Bambili, the “academic heart” of the North West, is lost.