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| Communication Minister Issa Tchiroma |
TERRORIST ATTACKS IN
BAMENDA
PRESS CONFERENCE
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
BY
H.E. ISSA TCHIROMA
BAKARY
MINISTER OF
COMMUNICATION
Yaoundé, 22 September
2017
Distinguished
Journalists
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Within the space of
two weeks, terrorists claiming to be armed factions of the secessionist
movements in the South-West and North-West Regions, who extensively and
methodically premeditated their actions since September 5, 2017 hosted by
websites abroad, have implemented their threats.
On 11 September 2017,
an explosive device was activated in the town of Bamenda, targeting a patrol of
the National Gendarmerie at the place called "Mobil Nkwen".
On 16 September 2017,
a Molotov cocktail was directed against a dormitory of the Sacred Heart College
in Mankon, still in the city of Bamenda, by two terrorists who had escaped,
intended to burn innocent children who were supposed to be in that dormitory.
Fortunately, this other terrorist act was perpetrated when the targeted
children were praying outside the dormitory.
Nevertheless,
substantial damage was recorded, with whole buildings being burnt to ashes.
Meanwhile, it is necessary to hail the remarkable solidarity move of the
populations, parents and the alumni of this institution, who spontaneously
mobilized themselves to make a financial contribution of CFA 12,000,000 francs,
for the immediate repair of the burnt buildings.
On Wednesday,
September 21, 2017, at 8:30 am, a bomb was activated against a police patrol,
at the Hospital Round About, next to the Bamenda Regional Hospital. The firing
of the bomb was triggered by an electrical device operated from a mobile phone
and two detonators, injuring three elements of the police force. They are Mr
ANYE ANDANG Justin, Senior Police Constable, victim of two serious fractures in
the arm and one in the tibia; Mr FOKOU Joël and Mr BIAMOU Loïc, both Police
Constables, victims of hearing trauma and post-explosive concussions. The
victims were immediately placed under intensive medical supervision.
As soon as he was informed
of the situation, the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and
Supreme Commander of the Security Forces, ordered right from New York where he
is taking part in the Session of the 72nd General Assembly of the United
Nations, that special measures be taken by the Defense and Security Forces, to
strengthen the security of persons and property, and that special provisions be
put in place so as to ensure greater security for schools 24 hours a day.
Under the coordination
of the Governor of the North-West Region, a crisis unit made up of
administrative officials and Defence and Security Forces has been set up to
assess the situation and implement, under the supervision of government
authorities in charge of defense and security, the appropriate measures
commensurate to the gravity of the situation.Let me remind that on
August 2 and 3, 2017, the services of the Regional Delegation for National
Security of the North-West had already, in their control operations, arrested
five individuals in the town of Mbengwi, Momo Division in the North-West
Region.
The exploitation of
these individuals resulted in the seizure of a huge military arsenal comprising
semi-automatic firearms, night vision equipment with laser rangefinder, glasses
and a shielding fire episcope, bipods and tripods for precision weapons,
chargers for sniper rifles, explosive charge containers and explosive charge
chemicals, detonator cords, explosive device switches, timers and other
equipment for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices and firearms.
The initial results of
the investigation launched in this regard established that the members of the
commando arrested were preparing to carry out attacks against the Defense and
Security Forces, military officials and administrative authorities.
Indeed, at the time of
his arrest on August 2 and 3, the commando was planning to storm a police
barrier.
Distinguished
Journalists,
It is precisely in
this context whereby our Defence of security were being stigmatized by the
Amnesty International NGO, in the fight that our country is leading against the
Boko Haram terrorist group in the Far-North Region, that another similar NGO –
I mean the Committee to Protect Journalists – just published in turn a
vitriolic report, qualifying the national legislation applicable to the
suppression of terrorism in Cameroon as a mere pretext aiming actually to
muzzle the political opposition and intimidate the press in our country.
We can rightly
question the simultaneity of such attacks, all the more incomprehensible
because they do not correspond to any reality on the ground, with the opening
of this second front of terrorist attacks on the national territory.
That notwithstanding,
strong measures have already been taken to reinforce security and prevent any
destabilization move, wherever it comes from.
The Government is
therefore calling on the people to act in this direction and to cooperate fully
with our Defense and Security Forces to eradicate this new terrorist peril that
leaves no doubt about the reality of its objectives.We are therefore faced
with a proper terrorist organization that the entire Nation, united behind its
Head, the President of the Republic His Excellency Paul BIYA, will fight by all
means until its final extinction.
The Government of the
Republic is taking the national and international community as witness, on the
turn of events and which require the Government to take its responsibility, in
order to ensure the order, peace and security that our populations deserve in
order to enjoy their rights and freedoms.
Cameroonians are
resolutely committed, behind the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul
BIYA, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to leading this
just and legitimate battle, which we will surely win; since it is above all a
question of preserving the unitary character of the State, which is a
fundamental and non-negotiable value enshrined in the Constitution.
Thank you for your
kind attention. End..
PS…While investigations are ongoing to find
out those responsible for acts of violence, the different Southern Cameroons
liberation movements have always accused the Cameroon government of organizing
violence as a pretext to further militarise the regions and carry out more
arbitrary arrests and killings of minority Southern Cameroonians.
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