Amba ‘General’ killed in Akwaya military raid.

The self-styled Amba General was killed Tuesday August 29, after the military raided in the locality. The operation was carried out by soldiers of the Sixth Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR Region, with headquarters in Mambanda, Kumba.

Reports hold that ‘General’ Elejuma was killed while some of his associates escaped with bullet wounds.

The soldiers are reported to have engaged a group of Amba fighters at a makeshift checkpoint they had mounted at the entrance to the village of Bodam, located about eight kilometres from Dadi, in Akwaya Subdivision. 

According to the Commander of the Sixth BIR Region, Major Gilles Onana, the Amba fighters were using the checkpoint to harass the local population and extorting money from motorcyclists, farmers, and anyone going in or out of the village. 

Armed with an AK-47, automatic weapons and Dane guns, the five Amba fighters are reported to have engaged in fierce battle with the soldiers. The fierce battle is said to have led to the death of ‘General’ Elejuma.

The Commander of the Sixth BIR, hailed the collaboration of the population with the defence and security forces that led to the successful operation to free the population from the atrocities of Amba fighters.

The population was also encouraged to continue with the collaboration that will see the return of the population of Dadi, which was one of the strongholds of Amba fighters.

During the operation, a significant amount of weapons and materials were confiscated by the BIR soldiers, including three weapons (an AK-47, a semi-automatic rifle, and a dane gun), ammunitions of various calibres, black uniforms, drugs (marijuana) and solar devices used to light up the hideout of Amba fighters.

Most of the population of Bodam has fled because of ongoing Amba fighters’ activities in and around their villages in Akwaya Subdivision. The people have heaved a sigh of relief after the action of the security and defense forces. 

They have called for further operations for Akwaya Subdivision to be completely rid of Amba fighters.

The operation, involving both security forces and the local population, observers say, is a good example of the effectiveness of civilo-military cooperation, which, many say, should be encouraged to wipe out Amba fighters from in the South West region.