The Fons of Menka and Buchi Villages in Santa Subdivision, as at Sunday May 27, were of the firm conviction that the killed 30 people in Menka, Pinyin, by soldiers were armed bandits and not Ambazonian Forces. They said, for three days (Wednesday May 24 to Friday May 26), hoodlums terrorised the population of Pinyin as they went round the villages stealing goats, pigs, fowls; collecting local guns from homes; abducting young boys and girls and demanding ransom or raping girls. The gang is said to have finally settled at the defunct Star Hotel on the outskirts of Menka, about one kilometre from the Central town. Star Hotel Proprietor Recounts Ordeal Talking to The Post in Pinyin on Saturday, May 26, the Proprietor of Star Hotel, Cletus Cheo, 30, married to two wives and a father of several children, said he was confronted on Wednesday, May 23, at about midday on his farm, while he was spraying crops, by five boys who told him they are out on a serious mission and it would be good for them to go and talk with him in his hotel. “When we got here, I discovered that there were more than 15 of them. They were not masked. I told them that, since the hotel business was no longer doing well, I decided to transform it into my family home, though I have a comfortable home I constructed before the hotel. “I then asked them about the serious issue they wanted us to discuss. One of them said they are Ambazonian fighters and were here to fight for us and that they think this hotel will serve as an operational base. They said, from here, they will engage in the fight for liberation. I became so frightened. The one who spoke pulled out FCFA 49,000 and handed to me to go and buy drinks so that, as we are discussing, we should be drinking. I refused. He threatened me, brandishing a gun and a knife. I had no choice, so, I took the money and went for the drinks. That is how I got out of the house and that gave me the opportunity to narrate this story to my mother, wife and children. “My mother came and we all pleaded with them to leave my house. They were adamant. Instead, they started beating my mother in front of me and warning me not to tell anybody that they are here, else I will be a corpse the next minute. As they were drinking and installing themselves, news started circulating round the villages. “At 11.00pm, my mother and I were released on conditions that we were separating on an oath that nobody will hear of this story. We went home trembling and I immediately took my mother to the hospital for treatment. “Since then, I have not been here, until Friday, at about 5.00am when someone told me that information is circulating that the police will storm the hotel. The shooting here started at 6.00 am when the fellows were still inside with girls they brought along. Many were killed. Some, who were fleeing the area, were shot. My house is completely damaged. Khan Patrick Awa On The Run As Troops, Gunmen Demand His Head Meanwhile, the greatest victim of the Menka-Pinyin massacre is Khan Patrick Awa, head of the Khan family in Pinyin. The health worker is currently on the run as both Government security officers and the armed men are looking for him. If caught by any of the parties, Khan Patrick Awa will be slaughtered for what both parties have termed “betrayal.” The Post learnt that when the armed youths first stormed Pinyin on May 22, 2018, they forcefully took over the Khan’s family house at gun point. However, when the gunmen discovered that the news has leaked to the security forces, they stormed out of the house and sought refuge in Star Hotel before meeting their waterloo as they were all neutralised by Government security forces. After the incident, the security forces opened a manhunt for Khan Patrick Awa; accusing him of housing those they termed “terrorists and secessionists.” Meanwhile, on their part, the gunmen are demanding the head of Khan Patrick Awa, for selling them out to Government security forces and causing the death of almost 30 of their members. Speaking to this reporter, one of the relatives of Khan Patrick Awa said they fear for the life of their child because after the incident, both Government troops and the gunmen have been visiting their house, asking for his whereabouts. “We pray that God will protect our son wherever he is,” our source said. Santa Deputy Mayor, Gideon Muluh, Counts The Dead “It has been an unfortunate incident and since I was born and bred here, I have never witnessed such a scenario where people have been slain. We are here to count the dead. So far, some Bali women who came here have identified eight corpses and they have been carried to Bali for burial; Buchi, a neighbouring village, identified and collected five corpses; Bamendankwe, one corpse; Njong Santa one; the others are from Menka where we are standing. As at now, we can say 27 corpses have been found, but there may still be more in the bush. Of these 27, families have claimed 25 and if the rest of the corpses are not collected, the […] Read more