The security reassurance comes after threats from armed separatists. The armed men had said they would block the Bamenda-Matazem stretch of road linking the North West Region to the West Region.

The separatists had said they would compel commuters to use the Bamenda-Ekok Road, instead of the Bamenda-Babadjou road.

"We had threats that the separatist fighters were preparing to block the main supply road from Babadjou, Santa to Bamenda. Apart from the permanent and daily control on this road, we decided to carry out other targeted operations in the outskirts of the road. One of such operations led to the liberation of nine hostages in Pinyin," General Nka said on Sunday.

According to Brigadier General Nka, a military operation from April 15 to April 17 led to the liberation of nine civilians that had been taken hostage by armed separatist fighters in Asu’u, a locality in Pinyin, Santa Subdivision, Mezam Division.

On Sunday, the military reunited the ex-hostages with their family members at the esplanade of the 5th Joint Military Region in Bamenda.

The ex-hostages say separatists forced them to sleep on a bare floor in a dark room. They say they were tortured and fed once every two days throughout their time in captivity.

 The ex-hostages thanked military authorities for the operation that freed them from separatist captivity. One of them said he would prefer to stay with the soldiers than go back to the village where separatists may kill him.

“They forced me to join them and I refused. They chopped off one of my ears and promised to chop off my head at the Market Square. I thank the military for freeing me,” the ex-hostage said.

The Bamenda-Babadjou stretch of road has come under several attacks from armed separatists since the Anglophone crisis morphed into an armed conflict.

Brigadier General Nka says the population should go about their activities assured of security from defense and security forces. He also urged the people to help authorities with useful information where need be.