Gunmen kidnap seven passengers in Cameroon

Yaounde, July 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Seven passengers were kidnapped in Cameroon's Northwest region late Saturday, security sources reported Sunday.

The passengers were travelling from the town of Bafoussam, the capital of the West region, to Bamenda, the capital of the Northwest, when armed men intercepted their vehicle.

Family members told local media the abductors are demanding a ransom for their release, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Ransom kidnappings are common in the English-speaking Northwest, where separatists have clashed with government forces in a push for independence.

Police say travellers are frequently targeted by gunmen suspected to be separatist fighters.

Last month, about 12 people, including 10 passengers on a bus, were kidnapped by suspected separatist fighters in Cameroon's Northwest Region, where an armed separatist conflict is ongoing, according to locals and security sources.

The bus left the locality of Ndop and was heading to Bamenda, the region's chief town, when it was intercepted by gunmen.

"The separatist terrorists stopped the bus in the Sabga locality and kidnapped 10 passengers, including the driver. Two individuals who witnessed the incident were also abducted. They took them into the bush and started demanding a huge ransom," a security source in the region told Xinhua by phone.

Movement along the highway has been halted, and a search operation for the hostages has been launched, according to local authorities.

In Dcember also about eight passengers on a bus were kidnapped by suspected separatist fighters in Cameroon's Northwest Region.

The bus left the regional capital Bamenda and was heading to the town of Kumbo when it was intercepted by gunmen.

"The separatist terrorists kidnapped the passengers when the bus was crossing the locality of Bamessing. They took them into the bush and started demanding a huge ransom. We only learned about the abduction late Thursday," a security source in the region told Xinhua.

Source: IANS