The call by separatists for a “a ghost town” in Bamenda on 28 July was met with mixed reactions.

Security threats in the run-up to the burial of the historic opposition leader, John Fru Ndi  failed to materialise. The official funeral at the request of the head of state, Paul Biya, was under heavy military guard. Defence and security forces were deployed in Bamenda last 28th of July and in Baba II on the 29th of July, allowing large crowds of SDF militants, members of the government and the representative of the Head of State to attend the funeral.

According to media reports, more than 2,000 people attended the ceremony last Saturday. They defied security threats to pay their tribute to Ni John Fru Ndi, the politician who campaigned for peace, unity and democracy, and whose political struggle won him the post-mortem award of ‘Cameroon’s Grand Cordon de Merit’.

The SDF leader, who died on 12 June, was honoured by the nation from the time of his funeral at the Yaounde General Hospital on 27 July until his burial in the village of Baba II on July 29.