Security forces, in a rare outing, carried out an operation abruptly, disrupting a wedding reception organized at the Admiralty Hotel in Bamenda on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The incident happened in the evening hours in the Upstation neighbourhood, where guests had gathered for the ceremony before security forces reportedly stormed the venue and detained several attendees.
Witnesses described scenes of confusion as the security forces dressed in their military attire questioned guests and escorted some individuals away from the reception grounds.
Sources close to the investigation say a number of those detained were later released after a thorough identity check was carried out. However, a man identified by locals as Yerima is said to remain under interrogation alongside a few others.
Security sources allege that the suspect had been under investigation for suspected links to armed separatist groups operating in parts of the Northwest region, more particularly, also being investigated over alleged cattle theft, kidnapping, and extortion activities around Babanki.
Fresh reports circulating locally now claim investigators suspect Yerima of collaborating with armed separatist fighters in a series of cattle theft operations targeting influential livestock owners in the region. Among the names frequently mentioned in local discussions are businessman Danpullo and elite figure Fai Yengwo Francis, both reported to own large cattle herds in the North-West Region. These allegations, however, have not been independently verified by authorities.
According to inside sources, security officials had allegedly tracked the suspect for several months before carrying out the operation during the wedding festivities.
The timing and manner of the arrest have also sparked debate among residents and observers, with some questioning why security forces chose to intervene during the wedding celebration itself. Others have asked why the suspect was not reportedly arrested earlier in Yaoundé, where parts of the wedding activities are said to have begun.
Unconfirmed reports also suggest the intervention may have followed complaints from an influential group of livestock owners in Ndawara, with the operation reportedly coordinated by senior authorities in the region.
The scale of the deployment and the presence of high-ranking officers at the scene have drawn significant public attention, with many residents questioning the circumstances surrounding the raid.
The incident has further sparked discussion within parts of the Muslim community, where some had reportedly criticized the lavish nature of the wedding celebration before the operation.
For relatives and guests, the evening ended in shock as a ceremony intended to mark the beginning of a new marriage instead became the focus of a security investigation. At the time of this report, no official statement has been issued.
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