By Doh Bertrand Nua
Security elements in Kumba, Chief Town of Meme Division in the restive South West region have arrested a young man said to be the second suspect behind the 24 October 2020 heinous attack on the campus of Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy which left seven students dead and 13 others injured.
Arrested suspect being questioned by administrative and security officials
The suspect has been identified by administrative officials in Kumba as Ngwa Neba alias Commandant Zabbra. The 24-year-old was caught around the Kumba II Sub divisional office Tuesday 1 December 2020 while attempting to extort FCFA 5000 from an elderly man in a nearby drinking spot. Noise resulting from the fracas between the Neba and the elderly man is said to have caught the attention of a police officer who was nearby. Attempts by the officer to intervene and resolve the situation instead turned ugly.
Reports on the ground have it that the officer rather got bitten on the hand through Neba’s teeth. Neba is said to have put up a fierce fight to seize the officer’s gun.
The alleged Amba fighter was overpowered thanks to reinforcement from another officer who is said to have been observing the situation from the DO’s office. The population is said to have also joined in to overpower the separatist.
Reporters on the ground say Neba confessed to be a member of separatist gang operating in Kumba but Meme SDO, Chamberlin Ntou’ou Ndong believes Neba is a member of the gang that carried out the massacre in Kumba.
“Zabbra is one of those who contributed in the killing of those innocent students in Mother Francisca School,” declared the SDO. “…today he is begging, today he is crying, today he is saying that the Head of State should forgive him for what he did but it is late for him,” Ntou’ou Ndong added.
He disclosed that it is too late for the arrested fighter because he didn’t come out at a time authorities wanted them to come out and confess their sins.
Ngwa Neba, suspected perpetrator of Kumba school massacre
The civil administrator seized the opportunity to reiterate government’s unremitting manhunt behind the perpetrators. He promised all of them will be caught and brought to book. “You cannot come and challenge the state by killing innocent students who just asked by entering in the classroom and study. It can never happen. One after one all of them are going to be arrested,” he stated.
Worth recalling is the fact that Communication Minister and Government Spokesman, Rene Emmanuel Sadi weeks back disclosed one of the suspected perpetrators of the act whom he identified as Wonke was neutralised by specialized elements of Cameroon’s elite force, the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) at about 9pm at the Kossala neighbourhood 26 October 2020.
Sadi said the operation that led to his death followed instructions from President Paul Biya, Commander-in-chief of armed forces, for security to be stepped up in search of those he called “terrorist-secessionists”.
Ammunition including RECK brand automatic gun; 12 ammunition of 7.62 mm x 39; 7 ammunition of 12 mm calibre; 7 mobile phones; 1 receipt of national identity card in the name of Nfor and 1 shoulder bag containing Indian hemp were confiscated from Wonke as was disclosed by the MINCOM boss.
Good story
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