Bamenda and the entire Northwest Region returns to normal life today a month after separatist fighters declared a lockdown to coincide with school resumption for the 2025/2026 academic year and the October 12, Presidential Election.
The lockdown extended for 35 days (September 9 to October 13) with the exception of 8 days for the first four weekends of the lockdown.
As early as the first hour of today, vehicular traffic that was grounded but for the few opened weekends started circulating freely.
Truck loaded with goods that had waited to enter into Bamenda from neighbouring West region with their precious cargoes started driving into in as early as 12;30 am this morning. By 4 am some buses started arriving Bamenda from different destinations.
After staying indoors for over a month, many residents of Bamenda were eager to return back to normal life. Indeed pupils and students in most of the Northwest region are opening for the academic year today.
The streets of Bamenda were a bee-hive of activities this morning with long queues of car on the major streets of the city.
Ayuni Theresia, a resident of Bamenda Station told City Web (Bamendaonline) “It feels like outing day for boarding students” adding she can’t wait to go on with her life.
Another Bamenda Resident, Nche Valentine said it feels like “liberation day” from bondage or slavery he explained in pidgin English.
At the Custom junction, students, traders, civil servants could be seen jostling for bikes and taxis as each three to make it to their respective destinations with police officer standing nearby. Most students and pupils were in school uniforms, a sight to behold after a long time. At the entrance to some of the school security forces were stationed to ensure the safety of pupils and students.
Downtown Bamenda it was a similar scene with traffic holdup building along the Sonac street, Ntamulung, Food Market, Che Street, Foncha Junction to Mobile Nkwen streets.
At least life is back to Bamenda as the city and northwest region picks itself up from the crippling ghost town.
