Donga-Mantung: Separatist kill a renowned maths teacher

Separatists have shot and killed a maths teacher in Ntaba. Ntaba is a village nestled in the Donga-Mantung Sub-Division of Cameroon’s Northwest Region.

Zemkwe Gabriel was shot and killed in his car on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, MMI has learned.

It is unclear why Mr. Gabriel was targeted by separatists, who have since 2016 been fighting for an independent state called ‘Ambazonia’ in Anglophone Cameroon.

But for the past seven years since their bloody quest for autonomy began, they have been targeting schools, teachers, and students to enforce school boycotts in the English-speaking North West and South West Regions of the Central African nation.

Reacting to the killing of Gabriel Tarlishi Oliver, the Divisional Delegation of Secondary Education for Donga Mantung said the victim was hardworking, charismatic, and devoted to his job.

“He has served in secondary education for more than 30 years in the Donga Mantung Division. He died in active service as a staff member of the Divisional Delegation of Secondary Education after leaving GHS Kuta as principal,” said Tarlishi.

Tarlishi added that Gavriel was a mathematician of “utmost standing” who taught in a good number of towns like  Ndu, Tabenken, Kuta, and Nkambe, among other localities in the restive region.

As the community remains in shock and disbelief, Mr. Gabriel’s body has been taken to the Nkambe Regional Hospital annex mortuary.

Mr. Gabriel’s death adds to the long list of teachers and civilians targeted and killed daily by separatists and soldiers in the ongoing conflict.

The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy for Africa (CHRDA) reported the killing of several teachers by suspected separatists in 2023 alone. This incident further underscores a disturbing trend of violence targeting the education sector in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon since the onset of the crisis in 2016.

The protracted conflict not only continues to claim lives but also takes a heavy toll on education infrastructure. NGO reports estimate that over 700,000 children have had their education disrupted due to the ongoing crisis, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.

Amina Hilda contributed to this article.

Edited by Mimi Mefo Takambou

Mimi Mefo Info