Buea-based human rights group has condemned the kidnap of six divisional delegates in Ndian Division and the subsequent killing of one by separatist fighters in the area.
The Barrister Agbor Balla-led Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA made the statement on their official website Sunday 20 June 2021 while demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining five delegates still being held by separatists.
“CHRDA condemns in strong terms the abduction of the six delegates and subsequent murder of one and called for their immediate and unconditional release. This abduction is an abuse of human rights and a breach of International law, sanction by the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, 1979,” read the CHRDA.
“Kidnapping for ransom has been a strategy adopted by armed separatist fighters in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, kidnapping military personnel, government authorities as well as unarmed civilians. Several Chiefs and Civilians have been killed in captivity by armed separatist fighters, including a Divisional officer and the Regional Delegate of Social Affairs of the Northwest Region that was kidnapped at the early stages of the crisis in Batibo,” the statement added.
Speaking to the Voice of America News (VOA) on Friday, June 18 2021, the Secretary of State for Communication for the Interim Government of Ambazonia, Chris Anu, confirmed that Separatist Fighters under his command were responsible for the act.
The abduction occurred in the village of Masore Balue, Ekondo Titi in Ndian Division of the Southwest Region, involving Six divisional delegates. According to the Senior Divisional Officer of Ndian, Forwang Lawrence, the abductees include among others the divisional delegates of Land Tenure, Housing and Urban Development, Water and Energy Resources, Small and Medium Size Enterprises, Chief of Service for Surveys and Economy, Planning and Regional Development.
Lawrence Forwang said the kidnapping occurred as the officials were on mission to demarcate land for an electricity supply plant project in the area. Though condemning the act, the SDO said plans were made to secure the release of the abductors.
Unfortunately the abductors have already killed on of the delegates.
Mania Johnson, Divisional Delegate of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, for Ndian Division was murdered by gunmen in captivity. News of his death went viral during the evening hours of Friday 18 June 2021. Mania, a son of Mbu Bakundu, a village in Meme Division was among six delegates kidnapped by gunmen in Misore Balue in Ekondo Titi Subdivision Tuesday 15 June 2021.
They were reportedly kidnapped by a self-styled separatist commander, “General” 10 Kobo and his fighters.
The separatist commander had in an audio message threatened to use the delegates to set an example. He did not explain what he meant by set an example. However, he is said to have already made huge financial demands as ransom.
The corpse was transported and deposited at the Limbe regional hospital mortuary. His killing comes days after social media reports indicated the kidnappers have started demanding FCFA 1 billion ransom for their release.
In a video making rounds on Social Media, a Separatist Activist called Don Pasho, was seen making a ransom demand of 1 Billion FCFA and the release of 1000 Anglophone detainees by the government of Cameroon in exchange for the captives.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
No comments:
Post a Comment