• • “Bomd” found in Limbe Elecam office
• • “Biya must go” tracks inundate Bamenda
• • Security stepped up as election nears

DOUALA—Cameroon security forces shot and might have killed at least an armed man on the Wouri Bridge in the port city of Douala early Friday.

Four other men were arrested and taken to an unknown location after a gun battle that sent panic waves across the city, journalists in the city are telling us.

At around 10:30 am, gunshots were heard in at least two other locations in the city around Ndokoti and Bonassama.

We got unconfirmed reports of the discovery of bombs in the election board’s offices in the city of Limbe, further west of Douala.

Further north, the city of Bamenda was inundated with unsigned tracks carrying the message, “Biya Must Go”.

The incidents came amid fears of violence as Cameroon prepares to elect its next president.

Incumbent President Paul Biya has been in power since 1982 and is poised to be re-elected for seven more years.

He changed the constitution to remove presidential terms limit in 2008.

Local media said five men dressed in military uniforms set up barricaded on the bridge, which is the only route that links the city to the South West and West regions.

They then started firing gunshots in the air and shouting “Biya must go” from about 6 am to 8 am on Friday.

Security forces arrived the scene but were unable to convince the men to give themselves up, said journalist Amy Banda.

One man, who later dived into the river, was shot in a gun battle. He was presumed dead.

The bridge remained blocked for many hours following the incident, with curious city dwellers gathering to learn what was going on.

Douala was a scene of violent riots in 2008 when many took to the streets to protest hunger and hash living conditions.

At least a 100 people died in the riots, most of them in Douala, according to NGO estimates.

Security has been stepped up across the country in the run up to the presidential election on 9 October, amid fears of violence.

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