Over the past six years, I’ve had countless encounters with the Amba boys (Separatist Fighters) . Deep down, I thought I had seen it all. Guns pointed at me, stray bullets narrowly missing my car, my driver and brothers taken captive, you name it. Each time, I could identify the aggressor, understand the situation, and muster the strength to face the reality in front of me.
But a few days ago, Bamenda delivered a different kind of experience.
I was on my way home, riding on the back of a motorbike. We were only a few meters from my destination (Mill Hill House Foncha Street) when the rider abruptly stopped, collected his fare, and sped off without a word. Suddenly, I heard gunshots, loud and alarmingly close this time, not just nearby but right around my home.
In that moment, confusion and uncertainty overwhelmed me. Stranded in the middle of the road, I didn’t know which way to turn or what to do next. Before I could seek refuge in the nearby shops or homes, it was already too late. Every door was shut, leaving me with no choice but to press on toward home (where the shooting was).
Then, I remembered that we had a very important visitor Gerry Hastie a member of our General Council visiting Cameroon for his first time. My immediate thought was that they had come to kidnap him for ransom as it has been the case these days in and around Bamenda.
Fueled by worry and urgency, I made the risky decision to head home. Vulnerable and exposed, I knew the danger, but I couldn’t stay out in the open any longer.
It was then that I thought to myself: “Welcome to Bamenda the city of uncertainty”.
The next article will reveal what really happened on that day in and around the Mill Hill house.
Innocent Akum Wefon MHM
