Bamenda: Women Protest Against Kumba Killings, But D.O. Calls Them Pretenders

October 27, 2020

By Raymond Dingana

Women drawn from different walks of life have taken to the streets of Bamenda denouncing the killing of students at the Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba, Tuesday October 27,2020 .

They carried placards bearing messages like, ''Education is a must for our children,'' ''Education is not negotiable,'' ''End the war in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon,'' ''We need peace'' among others, the women accompanied by their male counterparts marched through the major streets of Bamenda and made a stop at the office of Mr. Nicolas Nkongho Manchang, Divisional Officer, D.O. for Bamenda II Subdivision. The D.O.'s remarks were not well received by the women.

While addressing the women, the D.O. said, many of them were pretending and that, they know where the boys are:“Most of them who are out here today know where the boys killing are children are hiding, but they pretend. If we keep on pretending, we are going to register more of these incidents, ” He said.

Bamenda II DO Addressing The Protesting Women At His Office

Reacting to the D.O.’s statement, one of the protesters whose names we got as Mama Mary, a food vendor at the Bamenda food market said angrily that, the words of the DO is clear indication that, he doesn’t want this crisis to end because of the gains he and others are making from it:

“We expected that the wife was even going to join us, calling us pretenders is proof that, he is one of those benefiting from the crisis. Mark my words, their days are numbered. They were shocked to see us out in our numbers because they thought the many soldiers around town were going to frighten us with their guns. We have refused to be frightened! enough is enough! They who know where the boys are, what is stopping them from going there and arresting them? We just want to see an end to the killings,” She stated.

Magdalene, not her real name said, the killings in the NW/SW should stop unconditionally, and that they and their children including their grandmothers have been raped. She said they are neither supporting the military nor the separatists. She said all what they want is Peace and Justice adding that, their children should be left alone and not used as political tools.

“The military has been there for four years, nothing has happen, Amba has taken over for four years and nothing has worked, the population is taking over and it’s time to be careful because this is just the beginning,” Magdalene furthered.

According to Eugenia, if by December nothing has been done to stop the killings; she will lead women to the governor’s office where they will be sleeping until something is done.

NW Governor, Adolph Lele L’afrique receievd the protesting women and men at the esplanade of his office. When the governor called on them to sing the national anthem, the women declined saying that, they were not there to sing but to call on government to put an end to the Anglophone crisis. The governor also used the opportunity to call on men of God to intensify prayers.

NW Governor, Lele L'afrique Talking To The Women At The Esplanade Of His Office.

Drayinfos recalls that, seven students lost their lives when the Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy was attacked by unidentified gun men, Saturday October 24, 2020.All eyes are now fixed on the government of Cameroon to see if the voice of the women will be listened to this time around.