Tension Grips Bafut LGA as Clashes Intensify Ahead of May 20
By Andre Momo | Baretanews
Bafut, Mezam County — Residents of the Bafut Local Government Area in Ambazonia’s Northern Zone have been gripped by fear following several days of intense armed clashes between Ambazonian restoration forces and troops of the occupying regime.
Eyewitnesses report that since Friday, May 16, multiple units of colonial forces deployed into various neighborhoods in Bafut, prompting a swift and forceful response from local freedom fighters. The resulting exchanges of gunfire have left the population confined to their homes.
“The kind of gunfire we’re hearing this time is deafening. Everyone is terrified,” a local resident told Baretanews under conditions of anonymity.
While clashes between the two sides are not new in Bafut, the scale and intensity of the current violence have caused widespread panic among civilians. Reports suggest that the occupation forces began arriving on Thursday night, May 15, but were quickly intercepted by Ambazonian forces, who had received prior intelligence about the deployment.
Though there is no confirmed data on casualties at the moment, sources describe the fighting as “fierce and ongoing.”
The escalation comes in the lead-up to May 20, a date that holds painful historical significance for Ambazonians. On May 20, 1972, the regime of French Cameroun unilaterally abolished the federal system that had granted some level of autonomy to Southern Cameroons, following the UN-organized plebiscite of 1961. Since then, many in Ambazonia regard May 20 as a symbol of betrayal and forced assimilation.
In defiance of the day, Ambazonian fighters across the territory have vowed to prevent any colonial celebrations from taking place. The restoration forces in Bafut are reportedly stepping up efforts to maintain control and ensure that no May 20 activities are held within their jurisdiction.
As the situation remains fluid, residents continue to call for peace and express concern about the growing insecurity in their communities.
