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Sixteen students of Progressive Comprehensive High School (PCHS) Bamenda in the North West region of Cameroon are in the hands of kidnappers since Friday October 23rd 2020.
A reliable source in Bamenda has told Mimi Mefo Info that kidnapped students of PCHS Bamenda were kidnapped on their way home by armed individuals. The students were all taken to an undisclosed location, MMI has learned.
The mother of one of the victims has told Mimi Mefo Info in a telephone interview today Tuesday October 27th that nine of the sixteen kidnapped students have been released upon the payments of ransom.
Speaking on the basis of anonymity, she says “The kidnappers asked me pay the sum of seven hundred and fifty thousand francs. I did not have so I begged them and managed to raise the sum of three hundred thousand francs. That is how my son was released at around 4 :00 pm on Saturday October 24th 2020”.
Our informant adds that her son, today an ex hostage is presently in the hospital. “…I took him to the hospital so doctors can flush hard drugs kidnappers forced him to consume. Not only him but all the students that were taken,” she says.
She explains that kidnappers have warned her not to send the son to school “until government resolves the anglophone crisis”.
The child was taken along the road leading to Ntarkah quarter at Bamenda 3 sub division while returning home from school. Some inhabitants in Bamenda say the quarter is noted for hosting hardened criminals and boys fighting for the restoration of Ambazonia statehood.
Reacting to the information, the administration of Progressive Comprehensive High School Bamenda have wave aside the information describing if as fake news. Contacted on phone, Ndoumu Polycarp;discipline master of the school says; “The information is false. All our students are in tack with classes going on smoothly. We conduct role call everyday and all the students are present. This must be a ploy by our enemies to tarnish the image of the school”.
The school administrator applauds operation Bamenda clean. “Since the beginning of the operation, it’s rare to hear that people have been kidnapped. Our school is well secured reason why we have not registered such happening”.
Ndoumu Polycarp adds that no parent or guardian has complained that to the school administration thereby concluding that the information is unfounded.
By Mbatho Ntan
Mimi Mefo Info
