(Dedicated to Mimi Mefo, Equinox TV Journalist Detained at New Bell Prison, Douala)
Ni John Fru Ndi, National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, S.D.F, the main opposition party in Cameroon was speaking to the press last Wednesday November 7th 2018 during an event organised by the North West Regional Governor, Lele Lafrique Tchoffo Deben Adolphe to officially present the abducted students of Presbyterian Secondary School, Nkwen after they were rescued from the hands of their kidnappers by the military, according to government sources. At the end of the brief session that took place at the Regional Delegation of Secondary Education, Up Station Bamenda, Fru Ndi tasked the regional governor and the Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul to speak the truth, at least for once. To him, there's a double game being played somewhere by someone unknown individuals. "Who is trying to deceive who? What are we hiding? Let the truth come out. Let the governor and his authorities here tell us what is happening. Let the Minister of Territorial Administration tell the North Westerners what is happening" Fru Ndi vomited.
 |
| Ni John Fru Ndi, S.D.F National Chairman |
He went ahead to say "they" already killed a lecturer and am American missionary in Bambili. To him, Bamenda was becoming the centre of education and now "they" want to destroy it. "All the problems we are facing now started because the educational authorities said there was something wrong with the educational system and for the problems to be resolved 'they' are currently destroying everything that is of education in the North West" Fru Ndi added. Without any fear or favour, he continued by saying "The North West is being destroyed by the government not by Ambazonians"
78 of the 82 abducted students and staff members of the school were freed three days after the incidence took place. According to Mr. Affuh Stephen, National President of the Presbyterian Educational Authority Teacher's Trade Union, PEATTU, they were released by their captors and taken to Presbyterian Church Nsem in Bafut where they were abandoned and later rescued by the military. "As a trade union leader, I am consoled that these innocent children have been released but my heart bleeds because my colleagues (teachers) are yet to be released. We don't know their fate as of now" he articulated.
 |
| Affuh Stephen, PEATTU National President |
From their very dirty appearance, it was obvious the students went through hardship. Almost all were in night wears indicative that there were woken up from sleep and forcefully taken to the unknown area. "Honestly speaking, I am really devastated and feeling very sorry when I look at the appearance of these children given that they were taken away from school early Sunday morning breaking Monday under very appalling conditions" Affuh Stephen lamented. Circumstances surrounding their successful abduction from Nkwen to Bafut at night, a time expected to be under the full control of the military is still setting tongues wagging. Ni John Fru Ndi wondered how a whole bus will drive into a school and carry over 80 humans and the curfew does not get them meanwhile about three weeks ago, his driver was shot at by the police on his left ankle at about 6:15pm because he was found on the streets after 6pm. The PEATTU National President had a better insight into what really transpired. He recounted that from his findings, the abductors tried to take away the abductees in a vehicle that got broken. Finally the children were driven as a herd of cattle to where they were kept, he revealed.
After seeing her lost but found kid, one of the joyous parents recounted how upon getting the sad news, she went straight into reading Psalms 23 which assured her that although her daughter will walk through the valley of death, she shall fear no evil because the staff of God will comfort her. She understood life is full of hurdles and so cultivated hope and trust in God because He has never failed and will never.
 |
| Happy Parent Whose Daughter Was Released |
The S.D.F National Chairman will later move into comparing the past and present. He recalled how Kamto declared himself winner of the just ended presidential election and ended up being arrested only to be released the next day but when he, Fru Ndi won the elections in 1992, he was held under house arrest for three months and mayhem rained on the Bamenda people. "I am an Anglophone and the Anglophone problem hurts me right in the heart because I am not being given my due rights in this country" he yelled.
N.W governor, Adolph Lele Lafrique addressing the media persons said of the 82 abducted, four persons are still missing (two students and two staff members) but all is being done to get them back. He also announced the release of the D.O of Noni that was abducted days back even before the Nkwen incidence. He went further to ask the population to rally behind the head of state so that together, normalcy can be brought back to the region provided all those wrongly involved in the fight against the state surrender. This to Fru Ndi was baseless because no guarantee was given for their safety. He wondered aloud why President Paul Biya is able to negotiate with Boko Harams who aren't even Cameroonians but can't appease his own hurt citizens. The governor ended by promising that, in his words, "While waiting for the situation to come back to long lasting normalcy, the curfew will soon be lifted provided we all join hands together with our security services, traditional rulers and administrative authorities to help the situation"
As to the way forward, Mr. Affuh Stephen thinks the educational system shouldn't be held hostage in this situation. "Schools, churches and hospitals are no go zones in times of crisis like this" he cautioned. He ended by making reference to a recently released communiqué from the moderator's office indicating that the P.C.C will be forced to suspend its schools because of insecurity. In the communiqué, the moderator called on both separatist fighters and the government to provide adequate security so that schools can go on without which the only option will be to shut them down.
At press time, P.S.S Nkwen has been temporarily shut down. After hard negotiations, parents have been permitted to take their kids back home and wait till further notice.
No comments:
Post a Comment