Ngarbuh Massacre:

HRW Accuses Military, Fulani Herdsmen

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Yaounde

International non-governmental rights organization, Human Rights Watch, has in its recent report accused the military and armed Fulani men of deliberately perpetrating the killings in Ngarbuh village in Donga Mantung.

                The report published Tuesday 25 February 2020 is part of findings in an investigation carried out by the organ after interviewing some 25 persons among whom were three witnesses and satellite images taken before and after the incident.

                “Human Rights Watch research suggests that the killing of civilians in Ngarbuh was deliberate. Witnesses and residents said that between 10 and 15 security force members acted jointly with a group of about 30 ethnic Fulani men who wore civilian clothes and were armed with machetes, clubs, and hunting guns,” partly read the report of Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW’s Senior Africa Researcher, stating clearly, that at least 21 civilians were killed including 13 children and one pregnant woman, five homes burnt, pillaged scores of other properties, beaten residents, and some victims found burned inside their homes.

                The report quotes three witnesses as stating that soldiers and armed Fulani attacked four houses, fatally shooting some residents before setting them ablaze, burning the bodies.

                “In one house, soldiers killed seven people, including five children, all from the same family. A 45-year-old relative who rushed to the scene after the killing said that four of the children were younger than 12. In a second house, soldiers and armed Fulani killed nine people, including seven children and two women,” it revealed.

                “When I arrived at the scene, I could not believe my eyes. It was horrific. Some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. Survivors were shocked and in panic. But many fled into the bush fearing for their lives,” narrated another resident whom the HRW quoted to have been part of those who buried the bodies.

                “In a third house, military and armed Fulani killed two people, including a pregnant woman. In a fourth house, military and armed Fulani killed three people, including a child. A woman living in the house was severely wounded but survived. A relative of the victims said he found the sole survivor with machete wounds all over her body,” added the scary report.

                Ilaria in the report calls for an effective investigation into what she describes as “egregious crimes” for those responsible to be brought to justice. “Denying that these crimes have occurred adds another layer of trauma to survivors and will only embolden government troops to commit more atrocities,” she warned.

                The report dismisses claims of confrontation between armed separatists and security forces as evoked by government adding that no explosion was heard by the locals who also accused soldiers of looting property in the area.