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Bamenda residents are in total panic after suspected Ambazonian fighters stormed the Presbyterian Secondary School (PSS), Nkwen and kidnapped 79 students and three school officials early this Monday.
According to Mme Njie Maurine, Discipline Mistress of PSS Nkwen, 82 people were abducted; 79 students, the principal, the school bus driver and a teacher from CPC Bali.
Some students of the institution narrated that, the kidnappers who called themselve amba fighters, said they are not happy with their being in school.
Shortly after a brief meeting with some parents and staff at the school’s premises, Governor Adolphe Lele L’Afrique has assured the parents, that measures have been taken for a safe return of their children.
“Despite what happened today, the government will not surrender…we are going to make sure all those abducted are brought back to their classrooms…measures are being taken by security forces in that regard…,” Governor Adolphe Lele L’Afrique noted.
The governor further sent a warning signal to those he called terrorists…”I want to send a strong message to the terrorists…they are raping, killing, looting, abducting; but they are facing a powerful reaction from the power that be..not only here in Bamenda, but in the entire North West region of Cameroon…we cannot allow this to happen, schooling is a right. Let the world see the true face of these terrorists…,” the Governor continued.
Dozens of parents, in tears came to find out if their children are among the kidnappees.
Some doors of PSS Nkwen were destroyed during the early Monday November 5th attack.
Officials are still to have a clue on the whereabouts of the students.
But an online video, portrayed eleven students, indicating that, they were kidnapped on Sunday November 4th, and that their whereabout is unknown to them. “We will open our own school here…all of us will stay here and go to school here…and fight for this struggle until its over..” their alleged abductor behind the camara indicated.
Ambazonian leaders on their part have issued a release, condemning the attack at PSS Nkwen and abduction of the students. The release stated that, the kidnapping was carriedout by what they called impostors in the struggle. They added that findings are underway and called on those in keeping of the students to release them with immediate effect.
This is not the first attack on schools since the anglophone crisis escalated but this is the first time, such a such a huge number of students are kidnapped.
The incident has also raised alot of dust, on the security of students in schools promised by the government before the start of the 2018/2019 academic year.
Many have questioned how up to 79 students were successfully taken out of the school campus unnoticed.
Investigations are on course.
By:Mbuh Stella
#MMI
