Newly Married Couple, 8 Others Killed By Gunmen

Gunmen suspected to be separatists have allegedly killed 10 people, including a newlywed couple and injured two others at a busy junction in the city of Bamenda in Cameroon’s troubled northwest.

This sad development was revealed by the regional governor on Monday. 

The couple identified as Mr. Simplice Longtsi Tsomene and Mme Tanga Helene Raissa, legalised their marriage two months ago after many years together.

The couple owned a phone shop at Old-Treasury Street in Bamenda and had constructed their private residence in Abangoh where they lived with some family members. They have three children, two boys and a girl. The oldest kid is 7 years old and the youngest is 2. 

A witness said the attackers arrived in vehicles late on Sunday, ordered people to lie on the floor with accusations of failing to support local separatists, and opened fire on them. While some obeyed their command, others ran.

The Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), the main separatist group in the English-speaking region which has been fighting since 2017 in protest of alleged marginalisation by the majority French-speaking government, denied responsibility.

North West region governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique told the Reuters news agency that a manhunt had been launched for the “terrorists” behind the massacre. 

“Investigations are on, and we will issue a statement on this later today,” he added.