Crisis in NW/SW Regions: Schools Becoming Target for Armed Attacks

 Since the resumption of classes on October 5, 2020, a series of attacks have been recorded on school campuses in the North West and South West Regions.

The worst of the attacks was that in Kumba where seven children were killed and many others wounded.

On October 4, 2020, the Government of Cameroon vehemently condemned the recent attacks on students and teachers in schools in Bamenda, Kumbo and Limbe.

Government stance was made clear in a communiqué signed by Cameroon’s Communication Minister, Rene Emmanuel Sadi.

According to the communiqué, armed men broke into Longla Comprehensive College, a school in Mankon in Bamenda, North West Region on November 3, 2020 at about 9am.

The men are said to have opened fire, terrorising students and teachers before fleeing the scene thanks to the timely intervention of the “Bamenda Clean” Operation.

Same day, in the Tobin neighbourhood in Kumbo, hooded armed men attacked the Presbyterian Nursery and Primary School.

They abducted some teachers and students but later released the students. This was thanks to the timely intervention of the Headteacher of the school and some parents. The teachers are still to be released.

On November 4, 2020 in Limbe, South West Region, unidentified armed men broke into the premises of Kulu Memorial College and ordered the students and teachers to strip naked.

They were then subjected to physical abuse before allowed to run out of the school campus.

The armed men also set a section of the school campus ablaze before vanishing into thin air.

These acts have been condemned by many who see the attack on schools as a violation of children’s right to education.