The population of Mayo Binka in Nkambe, Donga-Mantung Division, one of the most hard-hit areas by the Anglophone crisis in the troubled North West region of Cameroon have been challenged to resist the fear brought about by news of soldiers leaving the area amid separatist excesses.
In a video that has gone viral, a local authority is spotted begging the population, (some of whom are children in uniforms who were probably removed from classes by their parents) to stay strong, believe that together they shall overcome and return to their normal activities in pidgin English.
“Population, we represent our own security. Those in the bushes are our children, our brothers. We cannot accept that they come and destroy our village. We will stand strong and protect our children, let them go back to school. This situation should not instil fear and panic in you…”
“Whether the military is there or not, we will not allow our village for terrorists to come and destroy it. We will stand firm. Before the military came, we stood strong…”
“I therefore call on the population to be calm, school children to go back to their various classes and continue their lessons. Parents who went and removed their kids from school should go back with them.”
After alleged news of soldiers leaving Nkambe in the Donga-Mantung, one of the Divisions in the North West region that has recorded several cases of separatists and military attacks, the panic-stricken Mayo Binka population rushed to schools that have been the target of Ambazonia fighters lately to remove their children.
Others are reported to have packed their things to leave the village and move over to neighbouring villages, which according to them would be more secured compared to Binka.
Ariane Foguem
About fourteen people including a civilian, soldiers and separatist fighters have reportedly been killed in Cameroon’s restive North West region in less than 24 hours.
The killings occurred Sunday September 12, following the detonation of an improvised explosive device targeting soldiers on the one hand and gun exchanges between soldiers and separatist fighters on the other hand.
The explosive device implanted in Kikaikelahki, a locality in Bui Division detonated when a military armoured vehicle on board seven elements of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR stepped on it, killing the seven soldiers on the spot as the armoured vehicle shattered into pieces.
The shattered vehicle reports say was among others in a military convoy returning from Ndu in neighbouring Donga Mantung Division where they had retrieved the corpses of two of their colleagues killed in Chounghe, Mesaje subdivision a day before.
Cameroon News Agency had it that their movements were monitored as they made the first stop at a Total Filling Station in Ndu to repair a deflated tyre. Those that perished were three Sergeants, three master Corporals, and one 2nd Class grade element. Many others were injured, and backup came by air as they were lifted by helicopter.
Later in the day, gun exchanges between soldiers and separatist fighters reportedly led to the death of one civilians.
Early Monday morning, the population in Bamenda woke up to discover four corpses lined up at the Finance Junction. Three other corpses were discovered not far from the Finance Junction. It was alleged that the victims are separatist fighters killed and dumped there by soldiers. The military is yet to react to this information.
Meanwhile this Tuseday September 14, Bamenda city dwellers woke up to disturbing scenes. Reports from the area say coffins and charms have been displaced at major road junctions of Mulang, Rendezvous, Old simplicity Ntarinkon and city chemist.
Ambazonia fighters who suffered heavy human losses over the weekend are believed to have displaced the above-mentioned objects in what has been described as mysticism to revenge the killing of their fellow fighters.
Ariane Foguem
A heated debate has been on on social media platforms, especially Facebook on whether or not military men are qualified enough and supposed to give lessons to kids in the troubled regions of the country while carrying guns along.
This comes after images of an element of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, popularly known as BIR carrying a gun while giving Mathematics lectures to kids visibly less than ten-year-old went viral.
Commenting the pictures, some internet users held the view that most of the soldiers are “school drop outs” and as such cannot offer quality education to the children. Others have advanced security reasons to denounce the action, indicating that no kid is supposed to study in an unsecured environment, where the same military men teaching parade with guns all around.
“How much pedagogy do these guys master. Besides, most of them were recruited on the fact that they were successful in the physical and medical tests. You have friends or relatives in the BIR, we both know that some of them are school dropouts. So what are they teaching to the children, brutality I suppose…” An internet user drooped as comment.
“This is arrant nonsense. You cannot go parading in a class carrying a gun saying you are teaching. Teaching what? Just see those kids. Very innocent…” Another one bounced in.
Contrary to the above, others believe military men are more than fit for such a job in an environment that compels teachers to stay home. “We have medical doctors, teachers, philosophers, mechanics, engineers, lawyers, nurses, business tycoons and so many in the BIR and military. This image is super cool for not any kind of human is given a calk.” One road
“I don’t know what the poster is thinking but this is the best thing I have seen on Facebook concerning the Cameroon crisis. Respect to the BIR.” “All is see is happy kids in a classroom. Very happy to be in school. Period!” “Isn’t it good? Instead, for our children to be at home and become rebels, illiterates…this is good. I applaud the BIR” Three others added.
It should be noted that this is not the first time images of the military in Cameroon’s troubled regions offering lectures go viral. Ever since separatist fighters began using threats to keep children and teachers away from classrooms, the military has been substituting itself to ensure those who brave insecurity and get to school are educated.
Reports from the two troubled regions have it that this year, the situation is much more different as a good number of schools that had had their doors closed for the past three to five years welcomed students as some of the rebels, for the first time, have indicated the children should be spared from the close to five years conflict.
Ariane Foguem
