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Mayhem In Belo: Restoration Forces In Five Hours Battle With LRC Soldiers

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As early as 5am, Thursday April 5, 2018, gunshots where already heavy in Belo, Boyo County, Northern Zone of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. Restoration forces, were engaged in a serious gun battle with colonial forces of la Republique du Cameroun (LRC).

According to reports, LRC military invaded Belo, after being tipped off about a training camp of Amba forces. Their arrival in the area caused huge fighting, leaving casualties on the sides of la Republique with the colonial la Republique Forces resulting in summarily executions of civilians who ran for safety in the bushes

Frustrated LRC forces destroyed villagers’ property

Thursday April 5, 2018 was an unforgettable day in the lives of inhabitants of Belo, extending to road users. The tension in that part of Boyo County in the Northern zone was unprecedented, mind-blowing, deadly and frightening.

As the day grew older, the restoration forces devised a means to paralyse LRC forces intervention. They divided themselves in groups and spread all over Belo. While some were engaged in exchange of shots with the colonial forces, others went to Anyajua village and destroyed the bridge leading to the village.

This strategy seemed to have trapped the military that could not use vehicles to cross over, while those who had crossed trekked to come back.

In the cause of shooting, scores of LRC forces were killed. More reinforcement came from Mezam County, but could not match-up with the prowess of the Amba fighters. Unconfirmed information say over 50 LRC fighters were killed, and two trucks burnt down.

Frustrated with the huge defeat, LRC military resorted to terrorising innocent citizens in and around Belo.

Civilians killed

“We were returning from an interior village where we went to accompany a sick relative. Upon arriving Belo, we heardgun shots from every direction and a voice speaking in French, ‘Hey! Vous etes qui? garrez vous la et descendez du vehicule’ , asking us who we are and ordered us to step down the vehicle and hand over the keys. We alighted from the car and they ordered us again to bringour vehicle to where they were standing. We were three of us, all men. I entered the car and drove few metres where the over 50 military men were standing. We came out and were told to off our phones, present our ID cards and lie down which we did. While doing so the Soldiers continued firing shots in the air indiscriminately. They went to our car and searched it telling us that if they find anything suspicious, they will shoot us and dump us in bushes. My whole body was wet; I quickly took holy water from my pocket and sprayed on my body asking God to intervene. As if God heard my prayer, we saw about 15 other vehicles heading to Bamenda and other areas, they were all stopped by the military, at that time we were over 200. I said to myself even if they want to kill, they cannot kill 200 innocent civilians. The other newcomers were also asked to do same exercise we did. After spending close to three hours, the military allowed us to go to our various destinations, sending us away with deafening shots in the air. As I drove along, we saw more reinforcement coming down from Bamenda about four pickups with Elite forces dressed in mufti, they were certainly descending to Belo. We later arrived Bamenda around 2 PM,” A driver told BaretaNews

Back in Belo, a Police Officer popularly called ‘Commissaire’ was mistakenly shot by LRC forces and rushed to the Mbingo hospital where he was operated upon for over four hours. Eye witness account says, he was walking with his assistant in civilian wear when the colonial forces mistook him for the restoration forces, because the zone was declared no go area.

A stray bullet killed a young boy who was sitting in their compound. Dillon Ninuh died on the spot. Others were also short at Anyajua

Belo covers a surface area of about 346 square kilometres. The Belo municipality covers 29 villages with 96 quarters and has a population estimate of 88,664 inhabitants. There are basically 5 ethnic groups in the municipality. These are: The Koms, Mbessas the Fulanis, the Mejungs and the Mejangs.

By Lucas Muma,

Managing Editor – BaretaNews

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