The incident happened in Bafoussam, Capital of the West region.
At press time, the situation had degenerated into a public riot.
Commercial motorbike riders blocked major roundabouts in the city in protest of the killing of one of theirs.
Three vehicles belonging to the National Gendarmerie are reported to have been burnt down on the road.
Makeshift businesses destroyed as the angry riders set fire across the roads.
It is alleged that a Brigade Commander fired live bullet at a commercial motorbike rider who failed to wear a protective face mask.
News Upfront gathered that the rider in question was shot as he tried to escape from security control.
The rider who was rushed to a nearby health facility later succumbed to his wounds provoking the wrath of his colleagues.
Security force had Mobilised to contain the rioters.
The question on the lips of most denizens in Bafoussam is;
“Why should a top security officer fire a live bullet at that particular bike rider just because he didn’t have a face mask on?”
Eye witness accounts attest that many other commercial motorbike riders were working freely without face masks.
Even denizens around the scene of the incident, most were not having their face masks with them.
News Upfront tried in vain to get the reaction of the security officer in question.
The wearing of face masks is however obligatory in public places.
It is one of the measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country adopted by the government.
Prime Minister and Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute had announced tough sanctions for defaulters.
Shooting at victims is however not one of the measures.
The bike riders are determined to carry on with the protest move to seek justice for their fallen colleague
It should be noted that the wearing of face masks in public places has reduced greatly.
This, following the recent move by government to relax the Corona Response Plan in the country.
