North-West Region. Separatists Killed in Defense Forces Raids
Seven separatists whom the authorities describe as “terrorists” were killed in clashes last Thursday in the small town of Berero. The raid by the defense and security forces also resulted in the release of six hostages still in operation.
Emmanuel NGOTA
At the same time, four armed 4 secessionists were killed by personnel of the defense and security forces in the early evening on Thursday the 12th of October 2018. According to the head of the communication division and spokesperson of the ministry of defence said soldiers responded to a terrorist attack by secessionists in Isaje in the North West Region, Donga Mantung division. Colonel Badjeck Didier affirmed that weapons and ammunition were recovered by the defense forces during these raids.
This raid which is considered as a fruitful expedition by the defence and security forces comes on the eve after the mayor of the Social Democratic Front was kidnapped by some unidentified gunmen who are suspected to be separatists creating havoc in that part of the country. An incident that occurred during the early hours of Wednesday October 11, 2018 in the town of Kumbo. These group of secessionists terrorists neutralized by the defence and security forces are suspected to be the same group that abducted the mayor of the social democratic front who happens to be the first leader of an opposition party to be kidnapped by secessionists. In the military field, secessionist camps are being progressively dismantled by the defense and security forces.
It should be recalled that before the presidential election on Sunday October 7, 2018, the separatists sent a warning signal to government that they will do everything possible to disrupt the election most especially in the North West and South West Regions. They manifested their egoistic act as some gunmen drove pass the hospital junction in the north west region on a bike and spraying bullets on the air to create panic so that electors should be scared to go to the ballot polls. To their greatest dismay they met their demise as they were welcomed by a patrol team of the defence and security forces.
It is in this backdrop that, the head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces alongside national and international organizations congratulated the defence and security forces for making sure that the election that persons were not certain pass by without any hitches. As a reminder, the North-West and South-West regions have been shaken by socio-political demands since the end of October 2016, which led to the Anglophone crisis.
These demands led to armed clashes that left more than 160 dead in the ranks of the defense and security forces. According to Amnesty International, 400 civilians were killed in homicides attributed to both sides. And, more than 300,000 people have left the North West and South West regions.
