West: altercation at checkpoint leaves 3 dead
Two civilians: 35-yer-old Wakam Guy and 40-year-old Tangang Innocent were shot dead in the course of an altercation that broke out between one of them and security forces on Wednesday, November 22 at a checkpoint between Babadjou in the West and Wabane in the South West region. Sources said the incident happened on the side of Wabane.
A source narrated to CNA, “The two civilians had left Babadjou in the morning to my village Magha to console their friend who lost his brother. While at the checkpoint they were asked to pay the normal FCFA 500, they pleaded with the military guy on duty that they were only going to console their friend who lost his brother, but all their pleas fell on deaf ears. Then out of frustration, they exchanged words but later on paid. On their way back the guy who was on duty called his colleagues “The guys who disrespected us in the morning are coming” in French. They refunded the FCFA 500 the guys paid in the morning and asked them to park in front of their office and started beating one of the guys, to the point of death ( because blood was already oozing out of the guy’s mouth and ears )he seized a dagger from one of the military guys and in the process of trying to take the knife from him, he stabbed one of them.”
Another source said at this moment and despite multiple attempts to calm down the tension, the second government force gunned down the civilians.
Reports also say it is not the first time Innocent, a bike repairer is having an argument with security forces. Two weeks ago he had another broil with some security forces at Balepo in Babadjou subdivision. The second dead civilian, Guy, was a baker and business operator in the subdivision. Both men were married and left behind 6 children each.
