Cameroon: CHRDA says the burning of st mary catholic church and the abduction of five priests, a reverend sister and two Christian faithful is unacceptable

Buea – 21 September 2022

The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) Strongly Condemns the Burning of St Mary Catholic Church Nchang and the Abduction of Five Priest, A Reverend Sister and Two Christian Faithfuls.

On the evening of September 16, fire brook out at the premises of St Mary Catholic Church, Nchang, Mamfe Diocese, situated in Manyu Division of the Southwest Region, consuming the church building. It is alleged that the church was razed by unknown gunmen, believed to be armed separatist fighters, who in the course of the attack, abducted 8 persons who have remained in captivity in an undisclosed location including five clergy men, one Reverend Sister and two Christian faithful.  

While speaking to BBC News, Bishop Nkea of the Bamenda Arch Diocese stated that the attack on the church and the subsequent abduction of the 8 persons was perpetrated by armed separatist fighters and have made demands for ransom payment of about 100,000 dollars, and further reduced it to 50,000 Dollars, however, the man of God said the Church has no dime to pay for their released.[1] He asked why they attacked the church and the armed men stated that the Church has not been supporting the “Ambazonian Struggle” financially and the abduction of the men was to force the church to pay ransom.

Prior to the attack on the Nchang Catholic Church, one of the Activist of the Ambazonia struggle known as Eyong Willy (County Cordinator for Manyu of the Sako IG group), sent out an audio on August 24, 2022 which has been widely circulated on WhatsApp in which he called on armed separatist fighters to attack clergy men and all missionaries operating in the Northwest and Southwest Regions. He particularly mentioned the Catholic, Presbyterian and Baptist Churches and said they have been banned from operating in Southern Cameroon beginning from the 1^st of September 2022 except for the Major cities of Buea and Bamenda. He called on armed separatist fighters to shoot on sight any clergy man found doing missionary work in Southern Cameroon including the Bishops, Pastors or even the Pope. He also emphasized that there would be no school resumption in Southern Cameroon from the 1^st of September, to December 31^st 2022.

On September 20^th 2022, another Activist of the Ambazonian Struggle from the ADF, faction condemned the attack on a podcast and called it abominable,[2] acknowledging that the attack on the catholic church was perpetrated by Eyong Willy including previous attacks on schools and particularly the Attack on Queen of the Rosary College Okoyong in Manyu Division, and the attack on Government school Ekondo Titi.[3]

DETERIORATING SITUATION IN THE HANDS OF ARMED SEPARATIST

Manyu Division in Particular has become a hot spot in recent months, with high profile attacks perpetrated against the civilian population by non-state armed separatist fighters, including the Massacre of at least 10 civilians in Obonyi Akwaya Sub Division on May 14^th 2022,[4] the Arson of Mamfe District hospital on June 8^TH 2022,[5] and the Ballin Massacre of 25^TH June where at least 30 unarmed civilians were killed and houses razed.[6]

CHRDA condemns these attacks and particularly the attack on the Catholic Church Nchang, as it constitutes a grave breach of the 1977 additional protocol I to the Geneva conventions which states that it is forbidden to commit any hostile acts directed against clearly recognized historic monuments, works of art or places of worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of the peoples. The Hague laws and additional protocols, particularly article 15 of the 1999 II Protocol to the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property makes it an offense for any individual to attack any protected cultural property as defined in the convention including churches and schools.

We therefore call on the gunmen keeping the clergy men to immediately release them and to stop all forms of attacks targeting the church and the civilian population. 

The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) is an independent, non-governmental, apolitical and non-profit making organization created in 2005, dedicated to the protection and advancement of human rights and the promotion of democracy as a political culture in Africa. The CHRDA is based in Buea in the Southwest Region of Cameroon.

For more information, please contact:

CHRDA: chrda@chrda.org

[1] https://www.facebook.com/groups/2509480879357730/posts/2909802525992228/

[2] https://youtu.be/wPMpMk48reQ

[3] https://chrda.org/news-details?post_slug=cameroon-the-arson-attack-at-queen-of-the-rosary-college-okoyong-is-unacceptable

[4] https://www.chrda.org/anglophone-crisis-in-cameroon-incident-of-human-rights-violations-committed-by-the-defence-and-security-forces-and-non-state-armed-groups-in-the-month-of-june-2022/

[5] Ibid

[6] https://www.chrda.org/anglophone-crisis-in-cameroon-joint-report-on-the-massacre-of-civilians-in-ballin-akwaya-of-the-south-west-region/

Berinyuy Cajetan, Publisher

Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.