By Nfor Nkfu in Bamenda
Sunday 22nd August 2021 is likely going to be a forever sad day in the memories of christians of Presbyterian Church PC ,Ntafoang-Bali Nyonga ,an administrative unit in Mezam division of the crisis hit North West region of Cameroon. The usual singing and dancing was abruptly transformed into total wailing after bullets reportedly penetrated the church building , killing a christian, wounding the Pastor and many others.
While some sources on the ground say suspected soldiers of the Cameroonian army onboard armoured vehicles fired bullets into the church as they were ascending towards the area, others say christians were in the church worshipping God when armed men in military fatigue entered the church and opened fire. Hilltopvoices has not been able to independently confirm the authenticity of any of the sources.
The certainly is that at the end of the shooting a woman whose name we got as Grace a hair dresser by profession was shot dead, while the pastor and several other christians sustained life threatening injuries. At the time of this report, the wounded were said to have been taken to a nearby health center.
Amateur footages emerged from the scene showing christians dazed and confused. Wailing and crying engulfed the area as they could not believe their own eyes.
The sad incident comes in the midst of a military offensive launched by the government against a separatist militia operating in that locality.
Civilians have continued to pay a heavy price in the four-year long running separatist conflict in the the English speaking North West and South West regions. Churches, schools and hospitals considered a no go zone in an armed conflict have repeatedly come under attack with untold casualties. Many are asking, how many people will die before a peaceful solution is reached to bring the conflict to an end ?
NGOs and rights groups estimate that more than 3000 people have died as a result of the crisis since escalation in 2017.