Tragedy in Bamenda: Top Gendarmerie Colonel Killed in Brake Failure Crash

The fatal incident occurred in the Up Station area — a central administrative and military zone perched above the restive city. According to eyewitnesses, the truck, reportedly loaded with groundnuts, was speeding down the newly constructed stretch of road when its braking system failed.

Colonel Zambo’s car was hit with full force, leaving the vehicle mangled beyond recognition. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.

Appointed in March 2024, Colonel Zambo had only recently taken command, succeeding Colonel Boum Bissoue at a time when the region’s security situation remained tense amid ongoing separatist unrest. His death leaves a significant gap in military leadership in one of the country’s most sensitive zones.

Negligence and Systemic Failures

This tragic accident has also reignited public outcry over the widespread circulation of uninspected, poorly maintained freight vehicles across Cameroon’s highways. According to several reports, the truck involved had not undergone a technical inspection, yet it had passed multiple gendarme and police checkpoints unchecked — a common but dangerous lapse in enforcement.

Residents of Bamenda expressed both grief and fury. “It’s not just a tragic accident; it’s criminal negligence,” said a civil society activist who demanded an independent inquiry into road safety enforcement in the region.

The National Gendarmerie and Ministry of Defence have yet to release an official statement, but sources suggest that an internal investigation is underway.

As the nation mourns a top military officer, questions grow louder about the impunity enjoyed by reckless truck operators and the complicity of road control agents.