Cameroon: Ambazonian Spring Slams Shut Schools In NW, SW

The September 22 strike, which many Southern Cameroonians have described as a microcosm of the anticipated October 1 demonstration, allegedly forced the Bishop of Buea, His Lordship Immanuel Bushu, to instruct the Education Secretary of Buea Diocese to tell parents to come and get their children as a preventive measure.

The Bishop’s decision came after some demonstrators in Muyuka invaded a school and vandalised students’ and the institution’s property.

It was based on the Bishop’s instruction that the Catholic Education Secretary of Buea, Fr.Edwin MsingSeh, reportedly announced the temporal suspension of classes and appealed to parents whose children are still in schools to come and get them.

According to the Catholic Education Secretary, the suspension of classes will last until October 1, after which, students will be expected back in schools.

Speaking to this reporter by phone on Sunday, September 24, the Bishop of Kumba, Mgr.Agapitus Nfon, said their schools have not been shutdown.

According to him, they are only granting the request of parents, who have been appealing to them to allow them take their children back home until after October 1.

“Our schools are still opened. We only granted the request of parents who saw the events in Muyuka and pleaded with us to take their children home for the meantime. For those who want to take their children home they are free but for those who want to remain in schools, our doors are opened, the Prelate said.”

News emerging from Mamfe, Bamenda and Kumbo Dioceses hold that the prelates in these territorial circumscriptions may follow suit.

It would be recalled that the BAPEC Bishops viz:Mgrs. Cornelius Fontem, Immanuel Bushu, George Nkuo, Andrew Nkea, AgapitusNfon and Michael Bibi,the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC, Rev. Samuel Fonki and the Executive Secretary of the Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC, Godwill Chiatoh, are standing trial at the Bamenda and Buea Magistrates’ Courts.

The clerics were sued by the Consortium of Parents for refusing to re-open their schools, after the Anglophone Teachers’ Trade Unions embarked on an indefinite strike action on November 21.

The Consortium of Parents is demanding FCFA 150 billion from the Anglophone Church leaders as damages.{loadposition myposition2}