Chamberlin Ntou’ou Ndong, Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Meme Division in the South West Region said armed separatists, otherwise referred to as Amba Boys, had carried out the abductions apparently in a bid to frustrate schools that had braved the odds to resume.

According to the administrative official, the children were en route to school when about four armed men court marshalled them to an unknown destination. Informed of the incident, Ndong said the security forces immediately set to work. In the process, two of the four kidnappers were killed while all the children were rescued.

“I can confirm that early this morning, these children you see behind me were on their way to school unfortunately, they were kidnapped by four Amba boys. The four Amba boys took them to an unknown destination. I was informed and immediately we sent the forces of law and order to follow them and we thank God all of them, 23 have been released,” Ntou’ou Ndong is quoted as saying.

He adds that: “We seized many guns. You see those Amba boys, two of them were neutrlaised and today I can testify that a good job has been done here in Meme Division. Let me also seize this opportunity to once more tell those Amba boys that we are here for the security of our population. If you try, you are going to face the forces of law and order. And today, all my children are available just beside me, and I thank God for that. And I will also thank the forces of law and order for what they are doing to keep Meme Division safe”.

Locals have been urged to work closely with the defense and security forces who have as mission to protect the population and their property. Several other separatist incursions into schools in the division have in the past been foiled by the defence and security forces.