Ngarbur-Ntumbaw Mass Killings, PCC Moderator reacts

Ngarbur-Ntumbaw Mass Killing, PCC Moderator reacts

Following the February 14 2020 mass killing in Ngarbuh-Ntumbaw, Donga-Mantung division of the North West region, reactions have been pouring in locally, nationally and internationally, all condemning the act. The moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) has condemn the killing.

"We outrightly condemn the killing of children, women and entire household in Ngarbuh – Ntumbaw. We equally denounce the ungodly act of burning a PCC house of worship at Mbufung – Bali." The Right Reverend Fonki Samuel also reiterated that the use of military might to quell the rising secessionist groups will never be a way out of the crisis.

Rt. Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba, PCC Moderator

"Once more, it has proven to us that military might or violence is not the solution to this problem. An insincere route to peace, half measures, lack of good will, a general insensitivity to the pain of God’s people, the hate speech and violence perpetrated by armed separatists, an extremely poor governance and selfish politics continues to fuel this crisis." He went ahead to propose the way forward: implementation of Grand National Dialogue resolutions, need for an external mediator. He expressed fears God may be angry with his people and has turned his back against them.

"Can we not implement in full all the proposals of the Grand National Dialogue? In this circumstance, the role of External Mediators just like before has become urgent and expedient. We have failed as a people to protect God’s children, surely God is vexed and we must repent as a nation". It should be noted that this isn't the first time the moderator has castigated the excesses of both warring parties in the ongoing Anglophone crisis. At some point he was even dragged to court and later acquitted, a day he shed tears in public.

They've been conflicting figures on the total number of persons killed in the Ngarbuh incidence. The state has been denying that its forces carried out the act. Many accusing fingers have however remained pointed towards the government military. While secessionist leaders and other organisations put the figure at around 30, the government on its part talks of five killed. 

Unfortunately, since the advent and subsequent escalation of the crisis, just condemnation messages keep pouring and verbal calls for a quick end to the crisis plus proposals for a way forward. With all these seemingly falling on deaf ears, there's urgent need for a physical intervention by external bodies to force the two parties to seat for peace talks or drag instigators to court.