National Day celebration turns bloody in Boyo!.

The Mayor of Belo, Dr Ngong Innocent Ankiambom, the Inspector of Basic Education, Dr Anghi Aaron Ngong and the councillor whose identity could not be immediately confirmed, are reported to have been gunned down while on their way to the grandstand.

The deceased were said to have been targeted by the armed men, as they walked from the Belo Council premises to the grandstand, where the May 20 celebration was expected to take place.

The suspected Ambazonia fighters are said to have waylaid the mayor and those accompanying him. The incident brought to an abrupt end activities earmarked for the National Day event in the Subdivision. 

The few individuals who had mustered courage to come out for the event, despite the lockdown declared by separatist fighters, are reported to have fled for safety after hearing the gunshots.

Sources say security forces arrived the area when the assailants had already disappeared.

According to observers, the mayor took a big risk to walk to the ceremonial ground, without any security in a municipality known to be the stronghold of Ambazonia fighters.

The trained public health specialist was elected mayor of Belo in 2020, following the holding of municipal and legislative elections.

Since his election, Dr Ngong Innocent remained commitment to helping Belo regain its once buoyant nature.

He developed a slogan: “Make Belo Great Again”, which saw the Belo Council front the return of several children to school by assisting them with didactics.

The mayor and his executive fought hard to revive economic activities in the Belo urban area, which had been shut down as a result of the ravaging armed conflict. 

Apart from the killings in Belo, security forces are also reported to have repelled an attack launched by suspected Ambazonia fighters in neigbouring Njinikom Subdivision, still in Boyo.

Governor says investigation underway

Speaking to reporters in Bamenda after the military and civilian march past to mark the National Day, Governor Adolphe Lele L’Afrique said the perpetrators of the macabre act will be tracked and brought to book.

“Measures have been taken to trace the authors of that killing. We will be informed on all the development concerning the situation,” Lele said.

It should be noted that apart from the bloody incident in Belo, the celebration of the National Day was largely successful across the troubled North West and South West Regions.