Eye Witness Accounts of Easter Sunday's Shoot Out at Mbon, Mile 18, Mbengwi
Easter Sunday April 4th 2021 has been entered into the black books of Mbengwi as the day three persons were gunned down in the subdivision by yet to be identified gunmen whom some local sources suspect to be "Amba Boys". Two were shot and killed in Mile 18, first of its kind since the Anglophone Crisis started and one in the Medig zone of the Meta clan.
The victims were Ngum Mabel, a civilian, killed at her business place at the Mbon motor park where for many years now, she was selling roasted fish, Ngono Rodrigue alias "Pinoko", a police officer that was the bodyguard/driver of the Divisional Officer for Mbengwi, killed inside Broadway Rostand, a popular bar still at the Mbon motor park and an "Amba Boy" a local appellation for Non State Armed Fighters whose only nickname we got as "Dong" a native of Guneku village.
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| Ngono Rodrigue (Police Officer) & Ngum Mabel (Roasted Fish Vendor), Victims of Easter Sunday's Attack at Mbon |
Some of the eye witnesses of last Sunday's shoot out have been talking to Mbengwi Online. The first speaker, narrating the ordeal said he was seated in Broadway, not far from the door with a friend sharing a drink. Then some men entered dressed in military uniform, carrying AK47s, some wearing gun proofs. He observed one gave commands to his colleagues through sign language on where to position themselves. "At first I was like what have these military men come to do here? Is there someone they're looking for?" he explained, then continued that it was only after he heard a gunshot that it dawned on him something is wrong. "I don't know how I dashed out and sped home forgetting about the friend I was with and my phone. When I skipped into my house and locked the door behind me, then did I notice the bottle of beer I was drinking was surprisingly still in my hand" he added.
Ever since the advent and subsequent escalation of the ongoing armed conflict ravaging the two English speaking regions of Cameroon dubbed the Anglophone Crisis, the relationship between the civilian population and the military posted to work in Mbengwi has often been relatively cordial. It's been a common practice for years now to see both drinking and dancing in beer parlours at night mostly on Sundays since many now spend Mondays (ghost town days) to rest.
Broadway Rostan, a beer parlour situated at the Mbon motor park in Mile 18 Mbengwi is the funkiest night joint in the municipality. Even some administrators of the subdivision once in a while pass there on Sunday nights to catch a feeling of night life in Mbengwi with the commoners.
This explains why those who were in that night never bothered when gun carrying men in military uniforms entered the place. All took them for the usual police or gendarme officers or elements of the Rapid Intervention Batallion (BIR) posted to work in Mbengwi that frequent the place to catch fun.
Usually, most bars in Mbon get full between 8-10pm during week ends. It was still about 7:30pm. Most of those who had rendezvous to meet at Broadway were still making plans. From chitchats gotten, a group of government soldiers would've been there by the time of the incidence if not of the birthday party of a colleague that delayed them behind.
Another eyewitness that spoke to Mbengwi Online said he too was seated in the bar, far behind from the main entry/exit door with a friend sharing a drink. When the men in uniform entered, he too just like others took them for the usual military men they know, working in Mbengwi and that have been friendly towards the population all this while. Broadway Rostan has an inner room where some persons go and gamble, that is play cards otherwise known as "jambo".
By the time the unkwown men in uniform entered, two persons were in this room on a game. They were Ngono Rodrigue, the bodyguard of the Divisional Officer for Mbengwi subdivision and a certain Claude, dealer in pork business in front of Broadway.
Back to our second eye witness, he again said when he heard the first gunshot, he took it normal. After all it's nothing strange again these days. People have heard all types of gunshots and are now familiar with them. In his words, "Then I heard pam!, pam-pam!!, pam-pam-pam!!!. I knew we were under attack. Though dressed in military attires, non of the gunmen looked familiar. Then he continued, "So I dragged my friend forcing him to lie on the floor with me. We laid there for close to a minute then I noticed people rushing out, forcing their way through the main door. I got up to run but someone called my name, crying for help."
According to his narration, he rushed to the person and it was Claude, the pork seller. He had been shot on both hands and was bleeding. He pleaded to be carried to the hospital saying they've cut his hands. "Then I heard a friend saying, Boy, ya man dey down" our anonymous eye witness continued. "Hearing this, I was damn shocked thinking it's my wife" he added. "Na Pinoko that for down pa" the voice said again.
Ndong Rodrigue alias Pinoko, the D.O's bodyguard had just been shot at severally and killed on the spot. With a uniform officer down, no one again will dare to still remain around knowing that sooner, a reinforcement squad shall be storming the scene. Everybody ran helter skelter dashing towards various directions in confusion. The only person left was the bartender, a young guy in his 20s whom most of those who experienced the developments have been saluting for his bravery and courageousness.
The shootings took place right in front of him. He's said to have been the last person the military came and met at the scene struggling helplessly alone to safe the lives of the two victims. All of this happened just within a very short period. The assassins disappeared after their act. They likely came purposely for the two persons they successfully gunned down. How did they monitor and know the specific location of their target and went straight there to get him is thing one can't tell.
As the first gunshots were fired at Broadway, others were also fired somewhere at the Mbon Park precisely at The Point, name of a place where a lady by name Ngum Mabel, a native from Chenam village, Tondig zone of the Meta clan in Mbengwi has been selling roasted fish for many years now to carter for her three children and her visually impaired mother. Certainly the assassins divided themselves into two and planned to execute their mission at the same time. She was gunned down and she died on the spot, Sunday 4th April 2021 at the age of 39. She was born on 22nd December 1982.
A business neighbour to Ngum Mabel told Mbengwi Online that he got the heard the gunshots when his business place was still opened. He immediately parked in his things, closed his shop, mounted his bike with a friend and rode home. He said they passed and saw the lady on the ground and thought she had slept there as a safety measure. Since it was an atmosphere of total commotion, considering everyone was taken unaware, they continued their ride home without stepping down to check. Ngum laid there and breath her last.
From information we got, Ngum's visually impaired mother by name Tah Theresa started calling her daughter from home immediately she heard the gunshots to ask if she's safe. She called and called, the phone rang and rang but no one answered. Feeling something wrong, she left the house with the help of her grand child and trekked to her daughter's business place and behold, there she laid helplessly and lifeless on the ground. The mum cried and cried for help but no one came.
Her mortal remains "slept" at the park till the next morning that arrangements were made for her corpse to be transported to the Mbengwi hospital mortuary. Latest information we've gotten is that she shall be buried on Friday April 9 2021 at their Back Mbon residence. It should be recalled that on Sunday March 7 2021, an Improvised Explosive Device was handed to Ngum Mabel in a bag at about 8:30pm by suspected Amba Boys and detonated. Luckily, she sustained just minor injuries.
Why was Ngum killed?
Mbengwi Online has gotten videos of her circulating online in which she was testifying in church, Grace City International Ministries, Mbengwi after she survived the first attempt on her life. In the amateur video, she explained that the boys had accused her of dealing with the military, selling to them. She's seen saying "I told the boy I know nothing about what you're saying. I'm not a traitor and I'll never be it. It's not now that I started business that I'll do what you think I am doing. Please my brothers, leave my life because my mother does not even see. If it's for me, I can go but for my mother, where will I place her?"
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| Screenshot of Leaked Video In Which Ngum Gave Her Testimony in Church After Surviving the First Attack on Her Life |
In continuing her narration to church members, she said "He insisted. Then I told him that let me tell you something. You people might drink the blood of all but you'll not see my blood because I am innocent of all the accusations." Certainly she never foresaw a return of the boys, this time around to see her blood which she had openly told them they won't see. She continued her fish business thereafter not until last Sunday that she met her doom as she was assassinated right at her job site.
Why was Ngono Rodriguez alias Pinoko, the D.O's bodyguard killed?
Mbengwi Online hasn't any vital information in relation to this. Instead, what learnt is he was one of the most loved uniform officer in the subdivision by the population reason why many cried when his brutal murder was announced. Pinoko is said to have been the oldest police officer in Mbengwi till his doomsday. For over 8 years, he's been in the subdivision. No instance of him molesting, torturing or maltreating a civilian has ever been reported. He was so humble, lively and carefree so do many say. Ngono was noted for frequently putting on "destroyed" jean trousers and walking him freely around. Even on ghost town days, he walks around right into the quarters alone at times in his police uniform and at times carrying his gun. He had integrated himself into the society and was already understanding the Meta language to an extent.
Ngono had a special admiration for dogs, his best pet. It is rumoured he was so attached to his dogs to the extent where he could stay hungry just for them to eat. He was close to boys that smoke and gamble but aren't criminals. He loved playing football and was even a member of one of the "Sunday Sharp" teams here in Mbengwi. While others think it was surely a mistaken target, some say the fact that the assassins went right into the inner room of Broadway Rostan where he was on a card game with a fellow player and shot at him severally spoke volumes, that they actually came for him.
Did Pinoko foresee his death?
A Bamenda based journalist that's been covering stories in Mbengwi recounted an encounter with him sometimes in the past to Mbengwi Online thus; "This guy told me someday that as he's in Mbengwi, he's already death and just waiting for his final death. I encouraged him not to lose hope and he asked me that how much is his salary that he's fighting war? I used to hate him because he always looked drunk and "high" but one day he called me and asked that even if he smokes marijuana, does he disturb anyone? So why I'm I avoiding him? As you see me like this, I'm a living corpse"
Certainly he was somehow frustrated, maybe why he found comfort and solace in gambling, smoking and his dogs. It disturbed him that for over 8 years, he's been kept in Mbengwi, no promotion, no transfer meanwhile most of his mates with whom he graduated from their training school have been raised to high ranks. He's said to have been married and a father of four. He stayed in Mbengwi with his family in the heart of the crisis until of recent that he sent them to Yaounde.
That same Easter Sunday, the third death was recorded somewhere in the Medig zone of the Meta clan. There lived a certain Amba Fighter in Guneku popularly known as "Dong". Reports say other Amba Boys came and took him from his house to their camp and killed him for reasons best known to them.
The area where Broadway Rostan is located in Mbengwi, some are already beginning to term it a bloody area. Some years back, a certain Ndenge Elvis, a commercial motor bike rider is said to have been shot and killed by a police officer around same area. Their squabble erupted over a girl friend. The next day, bikes went on rampage attacking the Mbengwi police station and attempting to set it ablaze. Some bike riders even rode in from Bali to support their colleagues of Mbengwi in the fight. A military reinforcement from Bamenda succeeded to quell the riot. The police officer was later transfered
Still some years back, precisely in 2012, a guy by name Morris was killed in Mbon again around the area hosting Broadway. He was a mechanic. An over pumped tyre exploded and shattered him. Taking into consideration these killings and that of last Sunday, some persons are beginning to say that area needs cleansing.
Way before the ongoing crisis, some other two roasted fish vendors at Mbon park also died supernaturally. It is alleged they picked a huge amount of money that fell from someone and shared. After announcing for long about the misplaced money, no one owned up and the concerned engaged in a traditional justice system whose outcome was the mysterious death of the two women.
The population of Mbengwi is yet to comprehend the real brains behind last Sundays attacks. Many doubt if they were Amba Boys from Mbengwi of Meta origin that carried out the act. This because many hold the notion that such fighters in Mbengwi hardly kill, that killing is not really in the blood of the Meta people. Those with such views say they can only threaten and frighten and torture but will not spill blood.
To holders of such opinion, since the Anglophone Crisis started, fighters in the subdivision have made multiple arrests from businessmen to politicians like the current mayor and traditional authorities like the Fons of Ku, Mbemi and Wumnembug including other persons they term blacklegs but yet, non was killed. They only detained them, tortured them, collected ransoms and let them go.
So who are these guys that came and killed in Mbon, a place where no such thing had ever been done since the crisis started? Again, they were dressed in military attire. With such, can one conclude they were government soldiers? Certainly no. Instances of non state armed fighters wearing military attired aren't anew. Most so called Amba Generals like Field Marshal, No Pity etc have repeatedly released pictures and videos on social media in which they are seen dressed from head to toe in military attires belonging to the various units of the Cameroon armed forces.
Last Sunday's shoot out just like other past such happenings might just quietly die down. For now, no official statement has been made public about it. Life in Mbengwi is struggling to regain its previous steam. The forces of law and order have intensified security dispositions. These days, shops are asked to close down earlier than before and movement of bikes restricted from evenings though not officially. An atmosphere of uncertainty and fear still reigns as the population wonders what decisions the administration and security forces might take in the days ahead to beef up security after the unfortunate incidence.
Mbengwi had relatively been a safe haven for the past four years, compared to other hostile subdivisions not until last Sunday's killings. A crisis that started with peaceful street protests with peace plants degenerated to an armed conflict where the fighters started facing government soldiers with dane guns, then later sophisticated guns and now Improvised Explosive Devices simply because a stitch wasn't made in time to safe nine.
In the past, the fight was between Amba Boys against the military. These days, the dynamics have changed as civilians now pay the highest price especially those termed blacklegs whose fate of staying alive or being killed usually lies in the hands of the belligerents. Some think that Ngum was killed for selling to the military but others don't think so. The military buys from traders in Mbon market and other shops around. They climb bikes, drink from bars, eat from restaurants and even date girls around. So will everybody be killed for this? they ask.
Calls have been made repeatedly from within and without the nation for the Cameroon government to seek a final solution to the crisis. The government has repeatedly insisted that the situation is under control yet as days go by, more and more souls continue to perish.
