Kumba: Victim of deepening security lapses in Meme division

Bereaved families of seven children killed at Mother Francisca International Memorial Academy are pointing accusing fingers at Cameroon’s security negligence. When gunmen killed seven schoolchildren on Saturday, October 24, the government’s much talked about security was absent.

Speaking to some parents of the students killed, Mimi Mefo Info gathered that the security failed to adequately do its job reason why the kids were killed.

“I don’t understand why the armed killers will pass through Mabanda gendarmerie to Fiango kill students and drive back to their base without any security alert. Does this mean all the security men and women in Kumba were sleeping at about 10:00 am when the murderers killed our children?” One of the bereaved parents questions in agony.

The minister delegate at the presidency in charge of defence and other officials from the delegation of national security visiting Kumba Monday, October 9, 2020, reassured bereaved families and the population in Meme division of the need to reinforce security.

Speaking in a meeting with bereaved families, minister Joseph Beti Asomo said “Government will not tolerate anyone interrupting the education of children. The security service has apprehended three of the nine killers responsible for the massacre. We will get all of those involved and justice will take its course.”
He called on the families to accord confidence on the government to track down the killers.

To Joseph Beti Asomo, the security service in Kumba is waxing strong but need to be reinforced. He mentioned this at a security meeting at Kumba 1 council.

The City Mayor of Kumba speaking in the meeting appreciated government efforts to console those who lost their children in the shooting. Gregory Mewanu applauded government’s determination to maximise security.

Minister Joseph Beti Asomo, commissioner Ewou Ngeme representing the delegate general of national security arrived Kumba in a military helicopter. To some commentators, the delegation mainly avoided any attack by separatists while driving from Buea to Kumba.

The visit comes few days after the prime minister Joseph Dion Ngute was in Kumba to bury seven students killed in the historic school attack. At the moment, the whereabouts of the proprietress and teachers of the school remain unknown though some sources say they are under police custody.

Mbatho Ntan.