Berlem- Kumbo Bui County
Seven civilians shot and killed by La Rep colonial forces forces today in Berlem an outskirts of Kumbo towards Mbiame.
These 7 Motorbike riders were on their way from a village known as Mbam through Dzeng in the Nkum Sub County on a condolence visit to a family member that lost the brother.
La Rep military connived with the Mbororos of Berlem who of late had been in conflict with the ‘Amba Boys’ (name given to the Southern Cameroons or Ambazonian self defense forces) and attacked the boys shooting them one after another. They took from one Mbororo what is known as ‘Odeshi’ a certain local necklace, bangle or chain claimed to have supernatural powers sometimes made with cowries and a red piece of cloth and tied in the neck, waist or hand as protection against the enemy and used on each of the boys before killing them to portray as ‘Amba Boys’. The same ‘Odeshi’ was used on each of the boys before being shot as you can see from the Images. These civilians were unarmed, yet they chose to waste their lives.
Photo credit Doh Emmanuel Sama:
When they realised their blunder that “Amba Boys” would move with weapons to defend themselves and these civilians were unarmed, they brought our their cartridges (bullets) and took pictures of them as using their own guns would betray them the more.
One will wonder why the Mbororos would connive with the La Rep military to massacre innocent civilians, but the action is linked to a tension and misunderstanding that occurred few days ago when SCs Restoration forces attempted to arrest one Mbororo armed robber who was also referred to as a traitor, (acting as an informant to the military against the Amba boys) who narrowly escaped. His name we got as Issa later escaped from Berlem to Takui when the arrest failed, due to the assistance of other Mbororos who resisted the arrest.
In the confrontation, one Mbororo lost his life. The Mbororos as it is rumored hinted their leader Mallam Ndawara Dan Pullo, an influential and rich man in the regime who reacted and ordered for the military to attack the population. The military arrived Dzeng the next village after Berlem towards Mbiame, shot and killed one civilian, took away properties and burnt down houses and shops.
Yesterday two military trucks mixed with Mbororos left Kumbo for the same crisis area which has angered the population following a series of harassment left and right. This has provoked the “Amba boys” who have sworn to avenge the death of the innocent civilians. By the time of our contact with our informant, we learnt a fierce battle was taking place between the Mbororos and the “Amba boys”.
Shey Tatah Sevidzem