August 3, 2017, Menka Village, Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, Cameroonian Occupation Forces reportedly carried out a brutal operation in which innocent and unarmed civilians, including children and breastfeeding mothers, were abducted, tortured, and killed.

This massacre left the once-peaceful Menka Village reeling with grief and shock, as families mourned the loss of loved ones and the community grappled with the aftermath of the violence. Eyewitnesses and survivors recounted the ordeal with vivid detail, underscoring the deliberate and calculated nature of the attacks. Breastfeeding mothers, who represent some of the most vulnerable members of society, were brutally victimized alongside their infants, further highlighting the egregiousness of these crimes. Such acts not only claimed innocent lives but also devastated the social fabric of the village, leaving a legacy of fear and mistrust.

The attack targeted defenseless members of the community, causing widespread fear and devastation. Witnesses described harrowing scenes of violence as armed soldiers stormed the village, forcibly removing civilians from their homes and subjecting them to inhumane treatment.

Among the victims were children whose cries echoed through the air and mothers desperately trying to shield their infants. The Cameroonian forces, acting with apparent impunity, inflicted physical and psychological trauma on the survivors while executing many in cold blood.

The incident drew widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and the international community, who called for accountability and justice for the victims. However, the lack of action against the perpetrators has emboldened similar acts of violence in the region, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The actions of the Cameroonian forces in Menka Village constitute grave violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), amounting to War Crimes. Specifically, they breach Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits violence against non-combatants, including murder, torture, and cruel treatment.

The deliberate targeting of civilians, including children and breastfeeding mothers, underscores the violation of the principles of distinction and proportionality, which are fundamental to the laws of armed conflict. Torture, prohibited under the Convention Against Torture, represents an egregious abuse of human rights and dignity.

The systematic nature of these attacks also suggests crimes against humanity. This atrocity underscores the urgent need for international intervention to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

GENOCIDER IN AMBAZONIA