Skip to main content

FOUR DEAD, OTHERS WOUNDED IN CAMEROON'S MAIDEN REGIONAL ELECTIONS

By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum

A Roman Catholic Priest and a seminarian - all of Bamenda Archdiocese sustained injuries meanwhile two traditional rulers and two municipal councillor are reported to have died within the context of Regional elections  in Cameroon.


mangled car of Fr Anthony Viban, screenshot from amateur video

Reverend Father Anthony Viban and a seminarian were driving to Alatening, a locality in Mezam, Northwest region. They had left Akum for a Holy Mass in Alatening in the morning of Sunday 6th December 2020, Day of pioneer Regional Elections in Cameroon when they were shot. The priest was wounded on the arm while the seminarian was wounded on the leg, local sources say. The car transporting them was mangled by gunshots. It's windscreen shattered, while its wheels were deflated.

Sources say the two are responding to treatment  in a medical facility.

Councillor Encho Elias Ambi is reportedly dead after being shot in the Northwest Region. The incident is said to have happened  minutes after he voted in Mbengwi, a town that hosted polling stations in Momo Division of the Northwest Region. He is said to have been shot in a convoy along the Alabukam neighbourhood as he struggled to return to Bamenda after voting.

Two other traditional leaders are also feared dead. A traditional leader in Garoua reportedly died after voting. Another who was heading a list died on the eve of Elections still in the Francophone part of Cameroon.

Another Municipal Councillor in one of five councils in Momo Division also died after a brief illness; Mayor Itambi Andrew of Njikwa Council died  on Friday December 4, two days to the D day of Regional Elections.

The polls took place in Cameroon where a socio political crisis has been raging in the Anglophone regions for more than four years, the East Region battling with seleka rebels and the Northern Regions plagued by Boko Haram insurgency.

Comments

Editor's Picks

PLAN INTERNATIONAL AIDS MEDIA IN REPORTAGE   WITH FOCUS ON COVID-19, CHILD PROTECTION BY MILDRED NDUM WUNG KUM Some 18 journalists refined their skills in the gathering, processing and dissemination of information in the area of COVID-19 reporting and reporting child centered issues. This was during a seminar organised by the NGO known as Plan International Cameroon, May 27 to 28 at the Presbyterian Church Center Bamenda.  The workshop was dubbed "c apacity   building of media practitioners on child safeguarding and reporting amidst COVID-19" Stating the objective of the seminar, Communication and Media Coordinator for Plan International Tembeng Hedley Tah said “It is true that COVID19 has not affected children as much as adults but the environments in which these children grow have been affected. As such, children especially girls are now exposed to different forms of abuses. It is therefore important to train reporters to raise awareness and draw ...
JOURNALISTS POISED TO ENGAGE IN PEACE PROCESS THANKS TO CHAMECC BY MILDREN NDUM WUNG KUM Peace journalism has to do with coverage and report of conflict issues without bias and none violent response to conflict for crisis resolution. It is the responsibility of journalists to contribute in peace building especially is crisis situations. The news media in the Northwest region is expected to engage in the journalism profession with an extra zeal to promote justice and peace. The NGO known as Charmers Media and Communication Consults CHAMECC, organised a two day workshop to adorn journalists with skills in practicing peace journalism. From the 5th to the 6th of December, at Central Park Hotel, Bamenda. Close to thirty journalists received lessons on how to promote justice, build peace and support mediation in their daily task of gathering, processing and dissemination of news and information. Participants in T  shirts incribed with peace connotations  The Executive ...
CANONICAL POSSESSION BUEA: BISHOP AVOWS TO DIE FOR FLOCK By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum Bishop Michael Miabeseu Bibi gave his word to lay down his life for the flock as he took canonical possession of Buea Diocese, Cameroon.  The rites accompanying the ceremony was modulated by His Excellency Julio Murat, Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea where the newly installed bishop of Buea officially assumed episcopal office which was symbolised by  taking the crosier and sitting on  the cathedral .  In a firm mood at the occasion,  Bishop Bibi said "I would like to request one thing from all of you who have come here today. Please remember me in your prayers so that I may be a faithful servant to carryout the mysteries that have been entrusted to me and this responsibility of shepherding the people of God in the Diocese of Buea. Pray that I may be a good shepherd. Pray that I may give my life to the service of the people of God in this Diocese even to the point of accept...