UN chief condemns student abductions in north-west Cameroon
New York, Nov 7 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned Monday’s reported kidnapping of students and staff from a secondary school in Bamenda, North-West region of Cameroon.
“He calls for their immediate release and return to their homes and families,” his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“There can be no justification for these crimes against civilians, particularly minors,” added Mr. Dujarric.
According to news reports, at least 79 students were abducted on Monday morning with their teacher, the principal and a driver – prompting a massive search operation involving the Cameroonian army. One student who hid under a bed said that events unfolded quickly as the kidnappers threatened to shoot, rounding up the older boys and leaving the smaller ones behind.
While no group has taken responsibility for the kidnappings, some journalists report that separatists complain that the Cameroon school system suppresses the English-speaking system inherited from the British.
“The Secretary-General reiterates the need for a peaceful solution to the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon through an inclusive dialogue process,” in which the UN “stands ready to assist,” said the UN spokesperson.
UNICEF/Karel Prinsloo
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
