By Sah Terence Animbom
Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor alias Agbor Balla, Founder/Chairman of the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) has described as unfortunate the “targeted killings of civilians in Batibo and Bambili by security forces”.
A statement from Balla’s office read: “On Thursday the July 12, 2018, the elements of the state security forces (the BIR) invaded the locality of Ofen, a quarter in Tiben village in Batibo Sub Division of the Momo Division, Northwest Region of Cameroon, targeted and massacred 16 unarmed civilians, eight of them being members of one family. Of the total victims nine were women and three of whom were young girls of age 8, 5, and 1 year respectively and seven of whom were men.
“Eyewitnesses report that, the Defense and Security forces got news that there is a training camp for the ADF in Tiben village of Batibo Subdivision and they targeted the locality with intent to eliminate members of the camp. They entered the village at about 7a.m. on Thursday morning while the villagers were preparing to go and sell their goods and merchandise at the Widikum weekly market, a neighbouring locality to Tiben. Failing to meet the ADF, they started shooting sporadically in the air causing panic and fear in the villagers. In the midst of the commotion, some of the villagers escaped to the bush.”
The statement from CHRDA adds that: “A notable and shocking scenario was the killing of a teacher, Tebit Evans Chick [said to be relative of ex-Batibo Mayor, Tenoh Lawrence] and 7 members of his family. His [pregnant] wife and children, Mrs. Tebit Judith being his wife, Chick Roosevelt 8 years old, Chick Blessing 5 years old and Chick 1 year old – all of them being daughters of Tebit Evans Chick. His father Tebit John Chick and his mother Tebit Helen Chick as well as his mother in-law Mrs. Okim Salome who heard the gunshots in the village and ran to his house for safety were all murdered in the house.”
Balla weeps that “away from this family, other human casualties also perpetrated by the same group of government soldiers in the very expedition include inter alia: Mrs. Abine Rose, Mrs. Achi Deborah, Atam Alphonse, Mr. Temah Titus Aboh, Mr. Tenjei Raymond, Miss Tenjei Florence Aboh and Mr Tifuh Charles Kuki who were shot and killed in the neighboring homes in the same quarter of Ofen , while Mrs. Abong Mary was gravely injured.”
The Human Rights Lawyer says in Tubah Subdivision, Mezam Division , North West Region , it is reported that in the locality of Bambili , on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, night, five students of the University of Bamenda were shot dead by the government military forces.
“Sources say it was on Wednesday night when the students were in their hostels. Neighbors, students, also say that night; they saw military men ordering students to come out of their hostels (The name of the hostel gotten was Elisam Hostel situated around the police station) which they did. They were asked to first present their identity cards, which they did. Later ordered to sit on the floor and later on asked to stand and walk towards the soldiers who out rightly shot and killed these students (execution style). Early the next morning, they went to see what had happen, but unfortunately, they couldn’t find their fellow mates at the hostel.
“That morning, it was discovered at the Regional Hospital in Bamenda that five (5) bodies (all young men) were brought in the hospital without any identification. Parents of Billy Kari, one of the victims, were contacted by the students of the hostel on the happenings of yester-night. The parents came and searched for him everywhere, they went to the police station but on getting there, were told to go look for him in the mortuary.
“On getting to the hospital, there discovered and identified that one of the bodies brought to the hospital without any identification is their son- Billy Karri, a student studying Urban Planning, in the University of Bamenda. The brother of Billy Karri confirmed that he spoke with him the day he was allegedly killed, who told him that he is on the table studying for his examination.”
As we went to press, separatists circulated messages on social media calling on the kidnap of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda for her supposed silence after the Bambili killings.
University of Bamenda reacts
The University of Buea in a statement attributable to Dr. Victor Cheo, Head of Media and Development said:
“Bara Mark has personalized the issue and directed his threats of elimination of the VC and the entire Administration of The University of Bamenda for an issue none of us know anything about. So should we pay with our lives for a student shot in the bar of Hotel Ellissam in Bambili after 8:00 pm? Let Bara Mark know that nobody has monopoly of violence. We know his family and where they are.BBC lied as did other press and Human rights organizations. UBa officials didn’t need to rush into conclusions without carrying out proper investigations. After several meetings with students’ representatives and Landlords in Bambili, we have not had any revelations as per the BBC report by Randy Joe .The only report from eye witnesses is that a Second year student of Geography and Planning, BIRLII Kusynyuy Cary, was shot in Ellissam Hotel not HOSTEL as some media organs have reported.”