By Bakah Derick
Not fewer than four persons have died in the North West Regional headquarters following following confrontations between state forces and none state armed groups.
According to Navy captain, Atongfack Guemo Cyrilea release my the communication head of the Cameroon defence and security forces, the four who died on Wednesday 8 December 2021 are on the side of the enemy meaning non state armed groups.
He explained that a confrontation ensued after an Improvised explosive device (IED) targeting the state security forces exploded immobilising a vehicle on patrol.
"During the gun battle, as house serving as hideout for the terrorists was actually discovered to be a warehouse for components used in making improvised explosive devices. In the course of the gun exchange, the chamber full of explosives got ignited, causing a shock wave on a few nearby houses." He release by the head of the Communications division states.
An eye witness account by www.drayinfos.com talks of over forty houses and workshoos, seven shops and close to eleven cars burnt to ashes.
Armed groups operating in the area described by the navy captain as terrorists have not made a statement on the matter.
The distance separating burnt houses and the fact that house that got burnt have others not burnt between them makes it difficult to match the release with the reality on the ground.
Locals have been telling local media in Bamenda that the torching of houses was intentional.
Similar incidences have been reported across the North West Region in the last four years with most blamed on state forces as response to attacks by or in search of armed groups.
This is the first arson-like incident in the center of the regional headquarter since the start of the armed conflict in 2017.
As many go homeless as a result of Thursday's incidence, speculations are high that internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict will continue to rise.