Boko Haram Bomb Scare: Drone sends Douala population fleeing

The inhabitants of ‘Bebey Elame’ Street, as well as, neighbouring streets in Akwa, Douala, took to their heels after a small drone landed on the roof of one of the houses in the neighbourhood.

The population had erroneously mistaken the drone for a bomb launched by the Nigerian terrorist group, Boko Haram, and raised an alarm.

The lights from the small drone were what drew the attention of many people. The response of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood was not surprising, given that there had been widespread rumours in Douala that Boko Haram was planning to hit Cameroon’s economic capital.

The population of Douala has, over the months, been living in a state of disquiet and uncertainty; somewhat living with their hearts in their mouths. Thus, when news broke out that there was a bomb on the roof of a certain Mr. Njoh at ‘Rue Bebey Elame’, nobody attempted to verify the claim, if it was actually a bomb, as many who got the news immediately took to their heels.

Some people reportedly jumped out of their homes half naked and sprinted off. There was no time for parents to wait for their children or for the children to wait for their parents; it was matter of “everybody for himself, and God for us all.”

Meanwhile, the 4th Police District in Douala, as well as the Fire Fighting Unit was alerted. Elements of the forces of law and order and the Fire Fighting Unit later got to the scene of the incident, but after having watched from a safe distance for a while and apparently came to the conclusion that it was not a bomb, they decided to check out the object that caused so much disorder in town.

The combined forces of law and order later identified the small object as a drone. The Police took the drone away and immediately opened an investigation.

Some inhabitants of ‘Rue Bebey Elame’ only returned to their homes the next morning.

Meanwhile, it is suspected that the small drone that sparked the pandemonium, might have been launched by one of the several amateur movie groups in Douala. It is also suspected that the group might have been trying to shoot some parts of Akwa for a video, but manipulated the drone poorly due to inexperience. However, police investigation is still ongoing.