Kumba School Shooting: Ambazonia IG, Gov’t Trade Accusations

 -At least eight school children were murdered in Kumba at Mother Francisca Bilingual College by armed men, described by the Senior Divisional Officer of Meme, Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin, as Ambazonia Separatist fighters. But the Separatists have said the perpetrators are Government forces. 

A statement from the Ambazonia Defense Council, reads that the Ambazonia Governing Council holds Government forces for carrying out the attack. The Interim Government adds that while they are carrying out investigations, they are not ruling out Government forces’ involvement in the massacre.
    “Let me also seize this opportunity to talk to all the parents, because I cannot understand that during the day Amba boys are attacking innocent children and the surrounding population are there without doing anything, all of them should be arrested, who do not support the affected children.” Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin, SDO Meme Division, told reporters.
  

Volunteers transporting wounded victims to the hospital

 The Ambazonia Defense Council has also said their investigations have been launched but that as they go further to examine what happened, they have already been reliably informed that Government forces carried out the attack.
    The Communication Secretary of the Ambazonia Interim Government, Chris Anu, in a live broadcast said that previous events like the 14 February 2020 Ngarbuh massacre by government forces are indication that they are responsible
    “At the Interim Government we condemn this massacre and pay our sympathy to the families of the bereaved. We condemn this massacre that continues to be perpetrated by French Cameroun regime. We are urging the UN and international community to consider an investigation in Kumba.”
    The Divisional Officer for Kumba 1, Ali Anougu, on his part urged the people of Kumba to carry out their weapons and stand firm against the Separatists.
    “Please everybody must come out today. Please, everybody, come out and defend your children. What kind of independence do they want? Please I am telling you, my brothers and sisters…I am crying for the first time in my life, allow children to go to school,” he said to a wailing crowd.

UN Coordinator Condemns Shooting
    

Meanwhile, the UN Resident Coordinator, Matthias Naab, has condemned the Kumba school shooting that left at least eight schoolchildren dead and twelve wounded on Saturday afternoon.
    “I am shocked and outraged by the killing of innocent school children which were attending school to get an education. On behalf of the United Nations and the wider humanitarian community in Cameroon, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of the children killed and our support to the wounded and their families and to all the community”, said Mr Naab.
    On 24 October, a group of armed men attacked Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba. At least eight children were killed as a result of gunshots and attack with machetes. Another twelve were wounded and taken to local hospitals.
    The World Health Organization has provided medical supplies to the district hospital and Médecins sans Frontières is supporting the hospital with medical supplies and personnel. The United Nations will continue to support efforts by the Government and non-Governmental organizations to provide necessary medical assistance to the wounded.
    The attack against school children is the worst atrocity since the resumption of the school year on 5 October 2020 in which more students enrolled in the North-West and South-West regions than in recent years.
     “Children have a right to education. Violence against schools and innocent school children is not acceptable under any circumstances and can constitute a crime against humanity if proven in a court of law. I call on the competent authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this tragedy”, reiterated Mr. Naab.
    Mr Naab reiterated the United Nations’ call for all armed actors to refrain from any attacks against children and other civilians, and ensure that schools, medical facilities and their personnel are not subjected to violence or threats in any way.

Agbor Balla: Unacceptable
    

The Founder of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, Barrister Agbor Felix Nkongho, has condemned the Mother Francisca school shooting in Kumba, calling on thorough investigations that will lead to arrest and trial of perpetrators,
    “I strongly condemn the killing of school children at Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba. These gruesome and barbaric killings are gross violations of the right to life of these kids. It is unacceptable for anyone or groups of persons to harass, attack, and or kill children. It is a fundamental right for children to be educated. Hence, the perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be held accountable. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to their families,” Barrister Nkongho said.