North West Regional Updates

June 10, 2025

Compiled By Raymond Dingana

Tragic Shootings in Bamenda

The Anglophone crisis continues to claim lives in the North-West Region of Cameroon, with young people bearing the brunt of the violence. On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Ateh Amanda, a young woman, and Brandon, a commercial motorcycle rider, were struck by stray bullets in the Cow Street neighborhood of Nkwen, Bamenda III Municipality.Reports indicate that there may have been a third victim. Amanda was returning home when gunmen, suspected kidnappers, engaged security forces after abducting a trader from the Nkwen Market. In the ensuing chaos, the gunmen opened fire. Witnesses say there was a response from the government forces. At the end of the day, Amanda and Brandon were hit. They were rushed to a health facility but unfortunately succumbed to their injuries. Their bodies are currently at the mortuary.

Death of Suspected Separatist Fighter

In another incident, a young man suspected of being a separatist by name Noel, was killed over the weekend, and his body was abandoned at Choubouh Junction in Bamenda II Municipality. Sources suggest that he was killed by government forces. While some claim he had no ties to the Anglophone crisis, others assert he was involved with a gang engaged in kidnappings for ransom.

Gun Men Kill Family Head In Bambili

Gunmen killed Tangang Simeon, a contractor overseeing the construction of PC Down Cast in Bambili, Tubah Sub-Division. He was fatally shot on the evening of Friday, June 6, by unidentified gunmen. The motive behind his brutal killing remains unclear, leaving family, friends, and the community in deep sorrow. Bambili has for sometime witnessed an unprecedented level of violence which led to the death of a good number of persons.

GCE Candidates Appeal to Stakeholders for Compassion

Shifting to education, several candidates sitting for examinations organized by the Cameroon GCE Board expressed concerns that some invigilators and stakeholders are frustrating their efforts. Many reported that classmates were unable to sit for certain papers because they arrived just a few minutes after 8 AM. Speaking to Drayinfos, the students described this as "outright wickedness," given the challenging conditions they face in a crisis zone. Reports indicated that many candidates were late and were barred from taking exams in subjects like English Language and History Paper 1. Even on Monday, a ghost town day in much of the North West Region, the treatment remained unchanged. One student mentioned to Drayinfos that if this is an attempt to trigger a drop in performance rates in the region, then those responsible have failed. The students affirmed their commitment to continue working hard to secure a better future for themselves.

Education Stakeholders Appeal to Government To Reconstruct Classrooms Destroyed By Tornado

Education stakeholders in Nkambe, Donga Mantung Division, North West Region, have appealed to the government for assistance in rebuilding six classrooms destroyed by a tornado at Government Primary School Nkambe. This devastation occurred just hours before the start of the 2025 First School Leaving Certificate (FSCLC) examinations which started on Tuesday June 10. The classrooms were prepared to accommodate pupils for the exams when the tornado struck. A video captured the tornado tearing off the roofs of the buildings, leading to the destruction of the classrooms. Many expressed gratitude that the pupils were not inside when the wild winds swept through.

Bamenda: From Deep Potholes to Dust

After residents of Bamenda expressed concerns about the poor state of the roads, authorities took action to address the situation. On Tuesday afternoon, the roads were dusty, leading many to suggest it would have been better to focus solely on the deep potholes. The population has voiced their dissatisfaction with the authorities' efforts regarding road maintenance. A roadside vendor along the Ngeng-Veterinary stretch noted that the challenges they faced during the dry season have returned. They believe that the only solution now is the rain, which they hope will come to wash away the dust, while hoping it doesn't create another situation where they would start battling with muddy roads.