Anglophone crisis: SNWOT Decries Frustration Over Gov’t’s Disregard On Women, Children

By Doh Bertrand Nua

 

Women in the two Anglophone regions under the South West, North West Women’s Taskforce, SNWOT, have expressed their frustration over what they term government’s disregard to their plight in the midst of the worsening Anglophone crisis.

Their dissatisfaction is contained in a release they recently issued to condemn the brutal killing of students on the campus of Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba. 

“We are particularly frustrated by your disregard for us and our children as you continue to watch us suffer through certain unfriendly policies and your unwillingness to engage suitable and effective conflict resolution strategies,” partly read the SNWOT release.

While decrying the inhumane conditions the crisis has forced them into, the women said they were alarmed by the death toll of women and children and the excessive abuses meted on them by armed men living in most parts of the Anglophone regions.

“We have endured the excesses of your actions for over four years now. We have reached out to you on several occasions asking for your consideration and sense of responsibility towards women and children,” SNWOT members reminded government.

They accused government of failing to keep to promises made in many “strong speeches” on her commitment to protecting women and children, who, still continue to be slaughtered in gruesome ways.

 

“Your voices are silent and your actions rather compound than mitigate the pain and suffering on the ground,” they said, adding that they have called for ceasefire since 2018 and on several occasions reiterated the wish to see an end to the violence and hostility which has arrogantly been ignored.

 

“How will you explain this abomination in Kumba today 24th October 2020 at the Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Fiango, Kumba? Innocent children have been senselessly, publicly and brutally slaughtered before our eyes, under your watch. Children, whose only intention is to gain an education, whose little minds know not the cause of the war or the purpose for which it is fought,” they questioned. 

The women further appealed to belligerents to with utmost urgency bring an end to the crisis. 

“We may be weak today and unable to fight or choose not to but our voices will not be silenced. We call on all parties involved in the conflict from those who sponsor fighters, military strategists, security agents, policy makers and international trouble shooters to choose wisely for posterity and for peace to reign,” they said.