After killing of police officers in Buea: Bishop Bibi drums peaceful means for return of normalcy in NW, SW.

The emotion-packed statement was issued following the brutal killing three police officers over the weekend in Buea of the South West Region.

The uniform officers were killed by unidentified gunmen while on duty at a makeshift security post on the outskirts of Buea.

In his statement, the chief shepherd of the Buea Diocese, described the incident as one too many. He urged authorities to take prompt actions in ensuring the return of peace in the crisis-stricken Anglophone regions.

“On Saturday, August 24, 2024, three policemen were killed by unidentified gunmen at Bwitingi, a locality in Buea Subdivision, Fako Division of the South West Region…,” he noted. 

Bishop Bibi said following a visit to the site of the incident, he gathered that “three police officers on duty were killed in an attack which occurred around 10:00p.m”.

He said the makeshift police post where the attack occurred was established as a measure to protect civilians in the context of the ongoing armed conflict in the North West and South West regions.

“I strongly condemn any act that violates human life and pray for the conversion of the perpetrators of violence in our midst and for a return to peace and stability,” Bishop Bibi said, maintaining that: “The Church remains close to the families, friends and relatives of the deceased. We equally pray for the eternal repose of the souls of the victims of this attack”.

He continued that: “Every time we hear of killings in the context of the ongoing crisis, we are reminded that if we do not abandon the path of violence and seek the path of peace, violence will definitely continue to inflict pain, hurt and trauma on us all”.

“As Christians and people of good will, we must always remember the commandment of God ‘thou shall not kill’,” he added.

He said the integral development of the country requires peace. 

Bishop Bibi insisted that: “The peace that we seek as Christians is true peace. Peace ‘which is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries’…This is because ‘peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples and the assiduous practice of fraternity’. Peace is ‘the tranquility of order’. Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity’”.

He has invited all Christians and people of goodwill of the Diocese of Buea to pray for a speedy return to peace in the North West and South West Regions.

While praying for the peaceful repose of the souls of the departed victims of Saturday’s incident, Bishop Bibi challenged “stakeholders of the crisis to seek peaceful means to sustainable peace”.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3212 of Wednesday August 28, 2024