Terror in the Land:

Ambazonia forces kidnap GCE Board Chair Leke Tambo

Prof. Ivo Leke Tambo

The Board Chair of the Cameroon General Certificate of Education Board, Prof. Ivo Leke Tambo has reportedly been kidnapped in Lebialem by Ambazonian Defence Forces.

In a video making rounds on social media, the board chair is seen stripped almost naked in a bush in the presence of faceless gunmen. The Median can however not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

            Another video also showed the ‘Amba Tigers’ molesting the occupants of a passenger bus. The driver of the bus had been put to the ground and was begging the assailants not to kill him with their gun. “Spare my life i beg of you; I am innocent.”

            The “Lebialem Ambazonia Forces” said they were taking the passengers hostage and that they were expecting a response from Menji.

            According to sources in Lebialem, Prof. Leke Tambo was leading a delegation on Saturday morning to his native Lewoh (Menji) to organize a ceremony to thank the Head of State for his appointment and that of Paul Tasong, the new Minister Delegate in the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

            The delegation was stopped on the road by the gunmen as they left Alou for Menji. Heavy fighting reportedly ensued between the Amba forces and the few gendarmes who struggled in vain to defend the delegation.

            Local sources also said, the former Mayor of Alou, Fogab Pierre was shot and wounded as he tried to remove barricades on the road.

            Most officials in the delegation have reportedly taken refuge in the Divisional Officer’s residence while others have fled to neighbouring Dschang, local sources said.

News of Prof. Leke’s abduction has been variously condemned by Cameroonians.

            “This is unacceptable. I am really broken by this sad news. Prof. Leke is a very good man who has worked so hard to develop Lebialem Division. He does not deserve such humiliation from his own people. It is an embarrassment to everyone,” said Anu Paul, a son of Lebialem.

            “This is terrible. I am afraid with this kind of development we may not be able to go down to the field for campaigns. God protect our nation,” said another commentator.

            65-year-old Professor Ivo Leke Tambo is a native of Lebialem and a former SG at the Ministry of Education. He was appointed Board Chair of the GCE Board on January 29 and installed on February 13, 2018.

            By press time yesterday the government had not reacted to the news of his abduction.