Two year old baby disappears mysteriously in Kendem village

The population of Kendem and environs in Upper Banyang Sub-Division, Manyu Division, South West Region of Cameroon have since the last few weeks remained befuddled over the mysterious disappearance of a 2-year, 2-month old child, Ashu Enow Christopher. According to Ashu Robert Tambe, the father of the aforementioned, he had just returned from the farm and later fell asleep in the parlour with his child. He further said that he left the aforementioned with his brother and went to a nearby river (River Bokwa) to take a bath during which they were playing with other children in front of the house. Ashu Robert Tambe said on his return from bathing he was informed that a hawk had carried and flown away with the 2-year, 2-month old Ashu Enow Christopher. According to 5-year old Ashu Chesuh Tambia and 6-year old Besong Bonaventure, they were playing together when suddenly a hawk appeared, glanced from a distance before carrying and flying away with their brother. During a fact finding mission at Kendem Mile 33 (Omen Quarters) where the incident is said to have happened, the father confided that a Witch Doctor he brought from Batibo in Momo Division of the North West Region confirmed that it was a female family member who transformed into a hawk and committed the atrocity.

The Witch Doctor indicated that the child was still alive, held in captivity in a nearby bush, under a big tree across the river. After several incantations, the Witch Doctor embarked on a journey to emancipate the child from captivity. The move was abortive as the Witch Doctor returned looking tired with several wounds on his body. The Witch Doctor would later confess that the wounds were as a result of the beatings he received from the witches and wizards in the event of trying to free the child. The Witch Doctor then revealed to the father of the child that the perpetuators of the act needed a pig before they could release the child. This story has been authenticated by the father of the child who confirmed that on the instruction of the Witch Doctor, he provided the family members with an extra-large pig. He continued that after the hawk disappeared with his child in broad daylight, he only saw the child a day after he provided the family members with a pig despite thorough search for six days. He added that the seventh day was a big surprise to him especially given the fact that the child was found on a stone on the same path he passes everyday to the farm.

Village sources said that the father of the child is being punished by the family members for refusing to give them fallouts from the sales of farm lands. According to a villager who pleaded secrecy, the family members had asked the father of the child to let them enjoy some of the material dividends derived from the farm business. It has been alleged that the father of the child inherited some farm lands from his father. They say each time he sells them; he keeps the money as well as the pig offered by the buyers. The villager concluded that this explains why the child in question remained crippled 2years, 2 months after birth and why he was carried by a hawk and the dead body only seen seven days after a pig was provided to the family members for sacrifice. The mother of the child Ashu Victorine Asan who could hardly speak expressed surprise how a hawk could carry a child as big and heavy as hers.