Yet-to-be-identified gunmen have reportedly killed no fewer than 10 people and injured two others at a busy junction in Bamenda city in Cameroon's terrorised Northwest region.
The attackers, according to a witness, arrived in vehicles late on Sunday and ordered people to lie on the floor with accusations of failing to support local separatists in the region before they opened fire on their hostages as some ran away.
According to Reuters, the North West region Governor, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, said that a manhunt had been launched for the "terrorists" who were behind the massacre, adding that "investigations are on and we will issue a statement on this later today."
However, the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), the main separatist group in the English-speaking region which has been fighting since 2017 to protest alleged marginalisation by the majority French-speaking government in the country has denied responsibility for the attack.
The ADF spokesperson, Lucas Asu, said, "There is possibility that it could be revenge killing," suggesting that the attackers could have been disguised as separatist fighters.
Meanwhile, the witness said men in military uniforms arrived in two vehicles to storm Nacho Junction where restaurants, bars and shops are located at about 7:30 p.m. and shot at people indiscriminately before taking off.
More than 6,000 people have reportedly been killed in Cameroon's English-speaking regions since the conflict erupted in 2017 after protests were violently suppressed.