Mezam SDO announces investigation to track Separatists who shot, kidnapped and molested women in Babanki

The Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) of Mezam in Cameroon’s North West Region has issued a statement saying, investigations are under way to track down Separatist Fighters who shot, kidnapped and molested women in Kedjom-Keku (Big Babanki), a village in Tubah Sub-Division.

In the statement released on Tuesday May 22, 2023, Simon Emile Mooh condemned the act which he qualifies gender-based violence.

He said, “………on May 20, 2023 around 8:30 over thirty women were severely tortured and kidnapped by heavily armed terrorists in Kedjom-Keku.”

Elderly women from the locality had taken to the street in protest against compulsory levies imposed on them by the separatists.

The protest met a brutal response from the fighters who opened fire on the protesters and had some of them seriously tortured.

Condemning such acts the civil administrator for Mezam qualified it as gender-based violence saying perpetrators will be tracked and brought to book.

“The SDO for Mezam firmly and strongly condemns this gender-based violence and untold barbarism against armless civilians. He further assures the general population that diligent investigations are under way to track the perpetrators of this act and present them to judicial authorities,” said Mezam SDO.

Calling on the population to remain calm he encouraged them, “…………to continuously collaborate with the administrative authorities,defence and security forces to denounce and fish out those bands of outlaw from our communities.”

By David Atangana