Editorial: Amba atrocities; Even in Nkambe too!.

First, it was the January 24 burning of construction machinery in Ndu Subdivision of Donga Mantung Division, followed by the February 6 kidnap of the Bamenda II Divisional Officer, DO, on his way to Nkambe, for the installation of the new Donga Mantung Senior Divisional Officer, SDO.

Even before the hot bubble of that abduction, which led to the killing of his driver and bodyguard could burst, an Improvised Explosive Device, IDE, exploded near the Nkambe Grandstand, during festivities to mark the Youth Day on February 11.

It left one innocent 15-year-old student dead and over 40 others injured, with four in life-threatening condition. As usual, the heinous attack opened the floodgate of condemnations. 

President Biya tweeted that: "While Cameroonian youth were celebrating the day dedicated to them, cowardly criminals committed a heinous act in Nkambe, in the North West Region. I strongly condemn this terrorist attack”. 

He then sent a condolence to the family of the killed student and also wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The Prime Minister, Head of Government Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, in his own reaction denounced the attack and re-echoed government’s determination to ensure security in the two Regions. 

“The Government of the Republic reaffirms its determination to put all these criminals out of action in order to restore security and peace in the country, particularly in crisis Regions,” Dion Ngute said. 

Other customary denunciations came from the United States Embassy in Yaounde. It condemned "in the strongest possible terms the horrific February 11 attack in Nkambe, North West Region, that killed at least one person and left dozens more seriously injured. There is absolutely no justification for an attack against civilians, or children in particular. We extend our condolences to the families of those killed and wish everyone who was injured a speedy recovery".

Joining the cue included the Member of Parliament, MP, of the area, Hon Ngala Gerard and the local women who marched to the Nkambe Fon’s, protesting.

The Wimbum Cultural and Development Association, WICUDA, and the Nkambe Cultural and Development Association, NKACUDA, also “vehemently condemned” the attack, describing it as a “wicked and inhumane act…perpetrated by evil hands against the innocent and peace-loving people of Nkambe in particular and Donga Mantung Division in general”. 

Briefing reporters on the sad development, North West Governor, Adolphe Lele L’Afrique, disclosed that: “We have mobilised security services to run after the assailants. Three of them have already been caught and they are under serious investigations”. 

There is no qualm that the assault was within the modus-operandi of separatist fighters, who often try to disrupt official festivities in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon such as the Youth Day, 20th May, Labour Day and Women’s Day.

Lucas Ayaba Cho, whose faction of the self-styled Ambazonia Interim Government controls the Ambazonia Defense Forces, said on social media that the Nkambe attack was “a message”.

“We sent a clear message to our stubborn civilians in Nkambe. We are at war. If the international community wants it, let them sanction us. We are tired of begging them to come to our help,” he posted on his Facebook handle.

But even in war, there are rules and civilians, let alone school children, who should never be the target. Their satanic deed has already been done. There is no guarantee that they will not continue in Donga Mantung or anywhere else.

As the Wimbum association pleaded in a statement: “The population of Nkambe needs urgent help of any kind: donations of blood, food, drinks, material, financial, or psychological”, and not just ready-made condemnations and condolences.

Beyond aid, which is just temporary, they need peace, security and justice, which have been void in the two Anglophone Regions for seven years running.

If Nkambe, once a safe haven in the two largely deserted Regions, is today the focus of brutal serial attacks, Yaounde and its apologists must stop the blame game.

In the meantime, President Biya should dispatch Territorial Administration Minister, Atanga Nji, to present gifts to the victims and sympathise with the family of the 15-year-old student of GHS Nwangri, Cherish Limnuyu, killed in the attack.

The bottom line, however, to borrow from Primo Levi, a former Nazi Concentration Camp inmate, is that "monsters [separatist fighters] exist, but they are too few to be really dangerous; those who are more dangerous are ordinary men, officials willing to believe, lie and obey without discussing" the real way forward.