By Bakah Derick
Not fewer than 10 persons are reported dead in Ashong near Batibo town in the restive North West of Cameroon. The Cameroon military spokes person Captain Cyrille Atongfack through a release detailed that the number of those killed were 12; all of them separatist fighters. Away from those killed, the Navy Captain says others were injured and escaped with wounds while three separatist fighters were captured, ammunition seized an vehicles included that of the senator taken.
According to the release, the separatist fighters were killed as the Cameroon military set out on a special mission to liberate one of the nation's lawmakers Senator Elizabeth Regina Mundi taken hostage on April 30, 2022. The release further indicates that, the mission started on Sunday 29 May 2022 ending with the military successful freeing of the Senator on Monday night.
"The appropriate and professional response of the elements of the Defense and Security Forces made it possible to put them out of harm's way with, as a result, the following assessment: several hostages released, including Senator Elizabeth Regina MUNDI, a dozen terrorists neutralized, and several others injured and on the run, 03 terrorists captured, several assault rifles and ammunition of various calibers seized, 14 Improvised Explosive Devices seized and defused, an all-terrain pick-up vehicle used by the terrorist gang seized, the vehicle of Senator Elizabeth Regina MUNDI recovered." He writes
Pictures of the freed senator have circulated on social media accompanied by elements of Cameroon's Elite force, the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) both in a bush and an airport possibly in Bamenda infront of a helicopter.
In tears, the freed senator has described what is going on in the region as "real war." She expresses gratitude to the military, state functionaries and others for standing for her liberation.
The Senator was abducted alongside her driver at the Foncha Street neighborhood in Bamenda. Nothing has been said about her driver though the military release indicates that several hostages were freed in the process.
Calls by different civil society actors and individuals yielded no fruits as separatists had demanded a swap with prisoners. A day after her abduction, the senator was seen in a video reading a statement in support of the position by separatists to move away from the Cameroon unity system.
The Senator now with her family has spent exactly a month in the hands of her abductors. Many have been visiting the heavily guarded home of the Senator in Bamenda including the metropolitan Archbishop of Bamenda His Grace Andrew Nkea Fuanya who was amongst the many who called for her release.
The Cameroon military says, her liberation is thanks to the collaboration of the population. They have called for more of such collaboration to provide an end to the over five years old armed conflict.
"Our valiant Defense and Security Forces, committed to the defense of our territorial integrity, the protection of populations and their property, as well as the restoration of peace wherever it is threatened throughout the national triangle, are determined to pursue their missions with courage, honor and fidelity. They know they can count on the constant collaboration of the populations and of all the living forces of the country. Finally, it should be noted that the High Command closely monitors compliance with the rules of engagement and Human Rights in the conduct of operations." The senior military officer concludes