I got a distress call yesterday from some fellows in Menchum Valley. They were raising alarm that nearly a dozen miltary vehicles were heading into Benakuma. They feared it could be a punitive expedition as has been reported previously in other towns and villages..
Such was to be expected anyway. Last week, Ambazonia fighters ambushed a military convoy escorting the SDO en route to Benakuma. He was on mission to commission the new DO for Menchum Valley Sub Division.
But in a daring attack, non state gun men opened fire killing a soldier with a head shot. Other soldiers were wounded. Two journalists on the trip (including The Voice reporter) were wounded.
One of them who was hit by three bullets is still being treated at the Douala Military Hispital. Both journalists were evacuated by military helicopter.
The SDO and other civilian officers were not hurt. Suffice to say that the soldiers responded with superior power and even using something even more deadly than machine guns.
thevoicenews.net learnt that the convoy was again attacked on the return trip to Wum.
The casualties and deaths on the attackers side was reportedly high but we The Voice not independently confirm the figures.
Benakuma is the headquarters of Menchum Valley Sub Division where Bregadier Gen. ROBINSON Agha, then head of the army in the Northwest hails from.
The Battle of Benakuma was seemingly a rude Send Off for the general who is facing strong criticisms from the people of his own community and the rest of the region.
They will not forgive him for what they perceive was a ruthless war loaded with repeated atrocious military acts on his own people and under his nose.
Gen. Agha’s critics must know that This Is War. People will not be treated so nicely in war situations. When you take up arms against an army, know that you have smarched the tail of a lion. It will devour you. You will be left with a few choices.
You will criticise later, but you would have lost souls. Your people would have become mere statistics. You will count homes, villages and businesses lost in fires. Fingers and limbs lost.
Hate and thirst for revenge will reign. You shall grapple with years and even decades of post war criminality. You shall blame generals and militia commanders. Worst is when you would have lost the war. Life would forever be like living under a perpetual military occupation.
As for the people of Benakuma, they may already be tasting the pain of a military reprisal this Sunday morning.