In an emotional Facebook post, Dr. Edwin Bongaman Lukong, a relative of Derick Fonye Adiyoh, has vehemently denied claims by “Ambazonian separatist forces” that Fonye was attempting to flee when he was murdered on Saturday afternoon. The grief-stricken family seeks to clarify the true events and honour the memory of a beloved husband, father, and humanitarian.
On a fateful Saturday afternoon near Nkambe, Derick Fonye Adiyoh was brutally murdered by armed men who have now been confirmed by the family to have been Ambazonian separatist forces. Contrary to misleading reports suggesting Derick’s death resulted from recklessly fleeing from his assailants, Dr. Lukong asserts that such claims are nothing more than a smear campaign.
“Derick had been living in the North West Region since the beginning of this crisis, travelling frequently between Bamenda and Nkambe for the past two years,” Dr. Lukong explained. “He had been stopped by these boys several times and, as a pastor, had boldly negotiated on behalf of others. He was well-known and respected for his involvement in sporting activities, his pastoral work, and his humanitarian efforts. The idea that he was a fearful civil servant running to hide is a blatant lie.”
Dr. Lukong, a relative of the deceased, emphasised Derick’s prominent role in the community as the Divisional Delegate for Youth and Physical Education. He highlighted Derick’s reputation for supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and his numerous acts of kindness, which made him a beloved figure throughout the region.
“He was not a timid classroom teacher but a community leader and a dedicated humanitarian,” Lukong continued. “The social media rubbish about him running away from armed men is a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of a man who can no longer defend himself. Who in their right mind, living in this region for the past six years, would attempt to flee from heavily armed robbers?”
Dr. Lukong expressed his disdain for the perpetrators, labelling them as armed robbers, kidnappers, and murderers motivated solely by money. “These are not freedom fighters; they are thieves and contract killers,” he stated bluntly.
The family, he said, is not seeking explanations. They are acutely aware that Derick’s death is part of a broader pattern of violence that has claimed thousands of lives since the crisis began.
“Derick was a God-loving, devoted Catholic, a member of the Catholic Men’s Association, a gifted prayer warrior, and a pastor to many,” Dr. Lukong reminisced. “He was a loving husband and father to six children, three of whom he adopted. His youngest child, Fonye Derick Adiyoh Junior, was just one month old when his father was killed. Derick’s memory will live on in our hearts forever.”
The heartfelt tribute from Dr. Lukong seeks to correct the false narratives and ensure that Derick Fonye Adiyoh is remembered not as a victim of reckless behaviour but as a brave, compassionate, and dedicated man whose life was cruelly cut short by senseless violence.
