Wednesday 17 January 2018

Rumour of attack by Ambazonia forces:



Schools resume in SW after Ambazonia scare
By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba
There was quite an impressive turnout in schools in towns all over the South West region Tuesday, after the Ambazonia scare that sent pupils and students abandoning classes and running helter-skelter for safety on Monday. Parents had stormed schools and taken their children home because of the scare.
                But administrative authorities of the region reassured the parents who had decided to keep their children at home that the scare was a false alarm after all and that there was no such thing as a planned onslaught on schools by Ambazonia Odeshi hit men.
                Different school actors resumed activities Tuesday following rumours that spread like bush fire in the harmattan throughout Fako division and parts of the SW region to the effect that Ambazonia Odeshi fighters had entered some schools and disrupted teaching and learning.
                At the GHS Muea that our reporters visited, school activities were back to normal Tuesday and the turnout was impressive.
                “Not all the students came back today; the resumption after the Ambazonia scare is a little bit timid. Just about 400 students have turned out today for a school of over 1000. However, we hope the others will come when they notice that there was no cause for alarm and that things have returned to normal in schools,” said Njoh Hans, Principal of GHS Muea.
                There were even more students at the Summerset Bilingual College Molyko, Buea where a crisis meeting was held between students of examination classes and the school’s officials.
                “We called this crisis meeting to reassure both the students and teachers that there was nothing to fear and that they should not heed to distractions by whosoever. We urged them to concentrate on their studies as examinations will not take account of the period lost,” said Waindim Rudolf, Summerset Principal.
                For his part, the regional delegate of Secondary Education for the SW also reassured that all had returned to normalcy at schools in the region.

                “All the schools have resumed full fledge. Public and private schools are also functioning normally. Not all the students may have come today, but we are optimistic they will come as it is now clear there was nothing to fear,” said SW Delegate Makwe Victor Yewoh, who said some schools in the region are presently writing pre-mock examinations.
                Taking his responsibilities squarely, SW governor, Okalia Bilai issued a statement reassuring the population of security measures put in place. The governor enjoined all and sundry to continue with their normal activities for the Odeshi scare was just a false alarm after all.
                Like his boss in Buea, the SDO of Meme, Chamberlain Ntou’Ndong, also issued a release reassuring the population of security measures and a return of calm in his division of command.
                “The Senior Divisional Officer for Meme Division has the honour to inform the entire population of Meme, that following false information circulating through the social media by unknown persons, requesting parents in Meme Division to withdraw their children in school from today the 15th of January 2018 onwards, a situation which has created general fear and panic amongst the population, the SDO reassures the entire population to remain calm and also call on parents to continue to send their children to school, because necessary measures have been taken by the State to ensure the security of schools, teachers and students in particular,” Ntou’Ndong said, adding that “the population should be vigilant and abstain themselves from unlawful individuals who are against peace, unity and security of persons and state institutions.”
                Despite the SDO’s assurances Tuesday, many parents were still skeptical about sending their children to school.
                The rumour thus caused a drop in school attendance in almost all major towns in the SW including Buea, Limbe, Tiko, Muyuka, Ekona and Kumba. 


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