West, North West: Circulation resumes on Bamenyam-Awing road, kidnapped students rescued.

The abduction of two young girls, said to be students of Government High School Bamenyam, by suspected separatist fighters from the North West Region, in the night of Saturday September 2, sparked an outburst from the population. The abducted girls were age 15 and 20. 

Vigilante group of the Bamenyam community is reported to have carried out a search in the border localities with the North West Region. They are also said to have rallied the entire village for a protest. The irate population mounted road blocks on the Bamenyam-Awing stretch of road.

According to information gathered from sources in the area, students, businesspersons and the inhabitants of Awing in the North West Region, who were traveling back from Mbouda and other parts of the West Region, were left stranded.

The Senior Divisional Officer, SDO of Bamboutos Division, David Dibango, on September 4, attempted calming the population to reopen the road but they stood their grounds, stating that it would only be possible if the two abducted girls were freed.

On Tuesday September 5, a delegation led by the Bamboutos SDO, Mayor of Galim and traditional authorities of both Awing and Bamenyam, successfully convinced the youth to reopen the road.

Meanwhile, the SDO promised the disgruntled youth that peace and security will be restored in the area and borders to the North West Region. This is not the first time that separatist threats are being reported in the West Region.

It should be recalled that the former SDO of Bamboutos, François Franklin, had in July 2021, signed a decision reorganising local vigilante committees in his area of command. The vigilante committees and groups were charged with collaborating with security forces to fight insecurity in the Division.

At press time, the two kidnapped girls are said to have regained their freedom. Sources say their release was thanks to the intervention of security forces.