Catholic Christians in Mamfe Diocese in the South-West region of Cameroon have been singing praises to God for ensuring the safe return of their spiritual guide, Rev. Fr. Christopher Eboka.
Kidnapped on May 20, 2021 as he set out for a spiritual visit in his diocese, the Catholic priest was set free Tuesday, June 1, 2021. Circumstances leading to his release remain unknown. During his eleven days in captivity, Catholic Christians in Cameroon and those in Mamfe Diocese in particular offered several masses praying for his release.
In a short video circulating on the social media, Fr. Eboka is seen smiling and thanking God for his release. For now, he has not commented on how he was treated by the separatists.
In a note issued by boys fighting for the restoration of Ambazonia statehood, they claim responsibility of the kidnap while issuing a warning to the Catholic Church to stop “…playing a double game with the republic of Cameroon aimed at weakening the struggle for Independence”.
Going by the note circulating on the social Media, the separatists say the government of Cameroon is using the Catholic Church to disarm fighters by either offering to give them huge sums of money to voluntarily surrender to the national Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration Committee (NDDRC) or offering money to fighters to enable them run to Nigeria and start a new life.
Besides the Catholic Church, the fighters point accusing fingers of complicity to weaken the struggle at all other churches and their pastors stressing that the struggle is not a child’s play.
However, they agree that they are not against the Church as they too depend on God to one day see the Independence of Southern Cameroons be a reality.
The attack of pastors and other church leaders have been frequent in Cameroon’s restive anglophone regions.
Mimi Mefo Info.
