Since the botched coup d’etat of April 6, 1984, the military has defended and defied Cameroonians quickly. The military has defended Cameroonians in the Far North against the Boko Haram conflict since 2013. However, most of what we have witnessed since the beginning of the Anglophone crisis in 2016 is the military abuse of power in Cameroon. The military has earned labels such as violent, an army of occupation, and inhumane.
How much power does the military have? Are they above the law? Do they owe the population a moral obligation? These are some of the questions civilians ponder. One of the most inhuman practices by the military is the Ngarbuh incident of February 13-14, 2020 in the North West region.
Government forces and armed ethnic Fulani killed at least 21 civilians in Ngarbuh village, including 13 children and one pregnant woman. One survivor, who witnessed the killing of his entire family, including seven children, told us: “I saw the military shooting my family members one by one as they attempted to escape. They shot our mother first. Then, they shot the children, whose bodies all fell on her.” This shows clearly how the military abuses power. Source: Relief Web.
For more on the Ngarbuh Incident, here is the Joint Commission Of Inquiry Releases Final Report. After the admission of the military excesses, there has been no accountability or justice for the victims.
A few weeks ago, Brasseries du Cameroon truck was accused of a hit-and-run, which left a cyclist dead. This took place in Yoke. Eyewitnesses claim that it happened in the process of the convoy transport. To date, there is no official report from Brasseries du Cameroon concerning the hit and run.
There was another hit-and-run in Bamenda six days ago. An army truck ran over a bike rider and his passenger, knocking them to the ground. The bike rider passed away before getting to the hospital, and the passenger passed away despite efforts to save her life.
His corpse was carried by bike riders to the governor’s office, but they were shut at. Two had their feet’s injured as a result of stray bullet.
These are just a few of the military excesses in Cameroon. Breaking into home, unlawful arrest of males, brutality and bribary are some of the attributes to the soldiers.
