According to the regional governor, gunmen attacked a crowded junction in the troubled northwest city of Bamenda in Cameroon, resulting in the deaths of 10 individuals and injuring two others.
A witness, speaking to the authorities said the assailants arrived in vehicles late on Sunday and proceeded to instruct people to lie on the ground, accusing them of not supporting local separatist movements.
The Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), the primary separatist group in the English-speaking region of Cameroon, has denied any involvement in the incident.
The group has been engaged in a conflict since 2017, aiming to highlight perceived marginalization by the predominantly French-speaking government.
Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique of the North West region informed media that a manhunt has been initiated to apprehend the “terrorists” responsible for the massacre.
According to the witness, individuals dressed in military uniforms arrived in two vehicles and launched an attack on Nacho Junction, a hub for restaurants, bars, and shops. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. (1830 GMT).
They shot at people indiscriminately, the witness said, before taking off.
Lucas Asu, spokesperson for the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), speculated that the attack could be a case of revenge killing, potentially carried out by individuals disguised as separatist fighters.
Since the outbreak of conflict in 2017, triggered by the violent suppression of protests, over 6,000 individuals have lost their lives in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions.
Amnesty International recently condemned the actions of government troops, militias, and separatists in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, highlighting cases of killings, rapes, torture, burning of houses, and other atrocities committed by all parties involved.