Baligansin, Bamukumbit inter tribal clash leaves one dead, several injured

At least one person has been killed and several others injured in the latest spate of violence between the people of Bamukumbit and Baligansin in the Ngoketunjia Division, of the Northwest Region.

According to Tebong Christian, a reporter for a local radio station in Balikumbat, fighting broke out between the two communities on Friday November 28, 2014, over a disputed piece of land leading to the death of one man from Baligansin.

The man whose name we got as Paul, said to be in his early thirties was shot in the head and chest. The people of Baligansin reportedly rallied and launched a retaliatory attack leading to several casualties. There are also reports on damages of properties and farms.

A calm atmosphere has descended on both communities with truck loads of gendarmes deployed to the scene from Bamenda and Ndop. Northwest Governor Adolph Lele L’Afrique is expected to visit both villages today and to hold a crisis meeting with the administration of Ngoketunja and representatives from the warring parties.

In March 2011, hundred of people were left homeless in a similar conflict between the people of neighbouring Balikumbat and Bambalang destroyed hundreds of houses, looted property and killed scores of animals. A growing population in the area, the fight for farming land and village pride are said to be the wood stoking the flames of conflict here.