Nation in shock over barbaric killings in Mamfe!.

The attack also left over seven other persons severely injured. The attack is one of the deadliest in the over six-year bloodletting in the North West and South West Regions.

The Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Manyu Division, Viang Mekala, who described the incident as a “terrorist attack”, detailed that it occurred at about 3:30 a.m., yesterday. 

The administrator disclosed that heavily armed men stormed the village from a nearby forest and set houses ablaze.

The attackers, he said, indiscriminately fired shots at inhabitants who attempted fleeing for safety. They are also said to have wounded others with machetes. 

Women, children among victims

Victims of the bloody attack, sources on the ground detailed, include months-old children and a pregnant woman who was reportedly raped before being killed.

Other victims are reported to have been forcefully pulled out of their houses and shot to death. Most of the victims, those familiar with the incident revealed, had come to the village to bury a certain Tabot who was killed. 

The perpetrators of the act, we gathered, accused those they killed, most of whom are believed to be Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, from Akwaya Subdivision, of betraying their dream independence struggle. 

SDO says over 20 killed, many injured 

Speaking to The Guardian Post in a telephone interview yesterday, the SDO for Manyu, said preliminary assessments put the death toll at about 20. 

“We have about 20 persons who have been killed. The number can increase…About 10 houses have been burnt down, seven persons seriously wounded, who are at the hospital,” the SDO detailed.

Mekala blamed the “terrorist attack”, as he described it, on “those people who are claiming to be separatists”. 

The administrator, who also said the attack was an aftermath of the ongoing armed conflict rocking the English-speaking Regions, assured that the injured victims “will be evacuated to Buea”.

Egbekaw vulnerable area 

The SDO said the village where the attack was carried out is located in a risky area, “close to the river and close to the bush. So these terrorists came at that time, early in the morning and attacked the population”.

Manyu SDO, Viang Mekala, condemning attack 

Appeals for collaboration from population 

The SDO used the opportunity to appeal for total collaboration from the population of Manyu in order to track down the terrorists. 

“The population needs to understand the necessity to collaborate and to give the right information at the right time for security forces to be able to react promptly than to come after,” he appealed, noting that “without collaboration, it will not be easy for the army”. 

Calls on population to remain calm 

SDO Mekala called for calm, assuring all and sundry that necessary dispositions are being taken to trace the perpetrators of the macabre incident. 

“…the forces of law and order are on the field to calm the situation...fighting is still continuing so that those terrorists who have perpetrated this barbaric act will be arrested and prosecuted,” he assured. 

He said there is no need for the residents of Manyu to panic, insisting that “the situation for now is under control”. He also extended the compassion of government to affected families. 

Inner view of structure burnt during attack

Manyu elite condemn attack 

Elite of Manyu Division, who had trooped to the Division to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the ascension to power of President Biya, rushed to the scene early yesterday and strongly condemned the attack.

The Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic, Victor Mengot Arrey Nkongho, said the incident is a “…very sad and dastardly attack”.

“We regret this attack unleashed on the innocent population…We deplore it. This is a sad situation and a sad day for Manyu...it is unfortunate,” Minister Mengot said regrettably.

“This is a situation we don’t know how to explain. How can people unleash this kind of wickedness, savagery on their people? They attack people on their beds, through in fire bombs, anyone coming is either shot or wounded with a machete. We don’t know what their gains are. It is beyond reason,” he added. 

Perpetrators taking refuge in neighbouring country

Minister Mengot said the attack was carried out by “terrorists from a nearby forest,” since Egbekaw village “is on the fringe of a forest and borders a river”.

He said: “People can come in right through the forest unnoticed or through the river by using boats,” to commit such acts. 

Perpetrators of the heinous attack, Minister Mengot said, commit their crimes and “run back to villages that are across the border”. 

“It is a sad situation to handle. We can only regret,” Mengot said, while extending the condolences of the Head of State to affected families. 

Partial view of burnt house, motorbike 

Challenges handling corpses 

Handling corpses of those killed during the attack, Minister Mengot said, is more challenging as the Mamfe Hospital had long suffered an arson attack. 

“Now, we are making use of health centres. The corpses have been packed in military vehicles. Eventually, we don’t have mortuaries that will contain them,” he regretted. 

Mamfe Mayor condemns, calls for collaboration 

The Mayor of Mamfe Council, Robertson Tabenchong Ashu, also strongly condemned the attack, which he said has made the situation of those seeking refuge in his municipality difficult.

“I condemn the killing of these innocent civilians, who escaped from Akwaya, Eyumojock, Upper Bayang and the North West Region, came here to find refuge,” the Mayor regretted, while cursing the Ambazonia movement and its supporters.

The municipal authority called on the population to collaborate with the forces of law and order so as to trace perpetrators of the attack. 

 “It is time for all of us to put hands on deck to end this crisis. Manyu has not done anything to these people,” he declared.