By Atia Tilarious Azohnwi
Chemuta Divine Banda, Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF) has in an open letter to President Paul Biya revealed their role in the release of 20 students of the University of Buea (UB) kidnapped by members of the non-state armed group.
20 members of the UB Football Boys team were taken into captivity in the morning hours of Wednesday March 20 while training at UB’s football pitch B (Wembley) ahead of the 2019 varsity games billed for Dschang.
Christopher Tambe Tiku, NCHRF South West Regional Secretary obtained the release of the twenty students by their captors late on Thursday night, Chemuta said in a statement.
The open letter to the President of the Republic dated March 22 reads in part:
“We have the honour most respectfully to inform you that, when the Regional Secretary of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF) of the South West Region informed us that he had been contacted yesterday the 21st of March 2019 by those who kidnapped the students of the University of Buea and that he was with South West Authorities discussing steps for their release, we instructed him to try to use peaceful means to secure their release. Late in the night, he sent information indicating that he had succeeded to obtain the release of the twenty (20) students. We praised the Almighty God for having touched the hearts of the kidnappers and caused them to spare the lives of the students and the life of our Regional Secretary who was himself traumatized in the process. The kidnappers knew that we have stood and continue to stand for a peaceful approach to the solution to the crisis.”
Pictures of the released UB footballers suggest that they were tortured and wounded by their captors.
The Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms condemned the kidnapping and torture of the students wondering why the much talked about security did not foil the act.
Chemuta Divine Banda writes: “What we can learn from this unfortunate act is the fact that the security we so much talk about is not really there. One is left doubting where the security and defense forces where when the students were kidnapped. They did not, for instance, also prevent acts committed at the Sacred Heart College Mankon in August 2017, PSS Bafut in November 2017, PSS Nkwen in November 2018 and the Kumba District Hospital in February 2019.
“We believe that this crisis which is benefiting some people has done serious damage to us and that the situation could get worse than this if we do not take positive action to reverse it.”
He regretted that their many recommendations to end the crisis sent to Biya has never got a reply. They restated the readiness of the NCHRF to find lasting solutions to the Anglophone crisis.
We learnt that the team’s coach, Nicolas Asongu was involved in an accident on Tuesday evening and was in hospital attending to the accident victim Wednesday morning when the kidnapping took place.
It is not known if any ransom was paid before the release. One of those released said their abductors were three gunmen who said they should stop attending school as well as quit playing football on UB ticket.
Upon their release, the students were taken to the Buea Regional Hospital where they got medical care and good wishes from family and friends among others. Prof. Horace Ngomo Manga, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea was at the hospital to comfort the visibly traumatized students. He called on them to keep the bitter experience behind them. The Vice-Chancellor wished them a speedy recovery so they can return to join their mates in school.
Those kidnapped include:
1.) Nomen Mbia Felix
2.) Abang Mactom
3.) Tambe Francis
4.) Njumewang Enongene Haston
5.) Motove Boldwin Netongo
6.) Barake Nke Brandon
7.) Ebong Ediage Jude
8.) Ndemaze Norbel
9.) Divine Amaaze
10.) Dongmo Kengne Yvan
11.) Begangancha Divine
12.) Nguty Micheal Akuli
13.) Tayong Roger Epoh
14.) Mbagopa Tchaleu Yannick Loic
15.) Ojong Ndip William
16.) Nelson Ngwanya Ekia
17.) Esung David Eponge
18.) Mambingo Samuel Wilfred
19.) Tabi Gingko Mbi
20.) Eku Desmond Eku