Batibo, NWR: MINDEF Blames Amba Infighting As Cause Of Child Burnt To Death

The spokesperson of the ministry of defence has said the recent images of a charred infant which went viral on social media was a result of an infighting between two separatist camps operating in Batibo in Momo Division, North West Region. 

Army Spokesman, Atonfack Guemo

Navy Captain, Atonfack Guemo Cyrile Serge, Head of Communication Division at the Ministry of defence made the revelation in a release he issued Monday 15 February 2021. 

“On Thursday 11 February 2021, a viral video of an amateur report appeared on the blogosphere showing an adult weeping with a charred infant in his arms. The authors, who posted this macabre video attributed the origin of the fatal fire to elements of the Defence and Security Forces, accused of having carried out a raid and set houses on fire in the Batibo locality, Momo Division, North West region,” partly read the release which clearly stated that the viral video was “an absolute hoax”.

Atonfack said the sad events of Batibo rather refer to a settling of scores between two identified terrorist criminal factions – “Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF) led by the unscrupulous Ayaba Cho and the Southern Cameroon Defence Forces (SOCADEF) under the orders of guru Ebenezer Akwanga, causing death and disarray in the two Anglophone regions. 

“In the present case, underlings from the Ambazonia Defence Forces led by the pseudo general “Big Efang” alias “Big Number” were charged by Ayaba Cho to murder the alleged general “Commando”, responsible for the SOCADEF terrorist operations in the Batibo sector. Informed of this punitive expedition, the so-called “Commando” fled with his wife, urgently abandoning his baby in the hideout which also served as a depot for adulterated contraband fuel as well as homemade gun powder,” the release red, adding that the “two highly flammable and explosive products” helped fuel the house fire ordered in ultimate retaliation by the so-called “Big Efang”, burning the baby in the process. 

It added that few hours after their acts, “secessionist propaganda, supported by certain media and national and international non-governmental organisations, with well-known editorial lines and allegiance” accused soldiers of committing the act which he added was “pure lies and falsehood” and a programmed scheme to demonize, demoralise and even demobilize defence and security forces in the conduct of their missions to protect territorial integrity, people and their property.