According to the civil administrator, it is illogical that armed separatists will move into a school, kill students and walk free, without locals doing anything to help the students.

In his first statement following an armed attack by separatists on Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in which nine students are said to have died and at least ten others in critical condition, the SDO said the culprits will be tracked down within the shortest possible delay.

“We have been seriously affected this morning. Some amba fighters went to a private school in Fiango and attacked innocent students. Many have been killed and others have been seriously wounded,” said Ntou’ou Ndong. “Let me seize this opportunity, not only to condemn what has happened but to tell them that we are going to do our best to shoot them down. Let them run. We are behind them.”

The SDO wonders how such an attack could have been carried out in broad daylight without those around the school intervening to defend the students.

His words: “Let me also seize this opportunity to talk to all the parents because I cannot understand that during the day, amba boys are attacking innocent children and the surrounding population is watching without during anything.

“I have instructed that they should all be arrested. All the surrounding population who did not support the affected children should be arrested.”

He said schools were expected to declare their activities to administrative authorities so that they can be provided security.

“In another vein, all the schools operating in Kumba should declare their activities. Because if the forces of law and order are not aware that some schools are operating within Meme, it will be difficult for them to secure all those schools. This is what I gave as instructions. But it will appear some of these schools continue to hide. All such schools are going to be shut down.”

Cameroon-Info.Net understands that at least nine students were killed and over 10 others seriously injured when armed rebels attacked Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy Fiango Saturday, October 24, 2020.

The gunmen are believed to have gained access to a classroom where students were studying and shot them point-blank.

Doctors Without Borders are said to have moved those injured from the emergency unit of the Kumba District Hospital to other hospitals in Fako Division.