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A chaotic scene could be relatively fair to describe the nature of things
or state affairs in Bamenda specifically at the Azire Presbyterian Church area
Friday October 20, 2017 following another explosive occurrence in the area.
The loud explosion sound produced at about 7am in a Church compound
hosting Presbyterian Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools and obviously a
church house was sufficient generate fear causing undirected movements. That a
stampede did not occur remains a mystery as kids who were already in school
were forced in panic to attempt escaping by themselves or with the aid of
parents who immediately rushed to school to take them home while those still
coming simply made U-turns.
In a narrative whose truism is yet to be ascertained, this reporter
gathered from an unofficial police source at the scene that the explosion that
occurred earlier was a security operation to deactivate an explosive planted
earlier by unknown persons. According to this source some planted the explosive
in the Church compound in the early hours of that day which was seen by the
night watch at the Azire Church on duty.
After the security was informed that narrator continues, immediate
actions were taken and the site was blocked thus preventing access from known
military personnel. What they saw was a gas bottle, a radio set and a telephone
in a bag. To deactivate the explosive, some technical maneuvers were performed
and hence the explosion. The loudness of
the explosion was sufficient to create pandemonium both physically and in the
minds of those who heard despite no human or material damages.
The Commander
of the 22Nd Motorized Infantry Battalion Brigadier General Agha’ah
Robinson Ndong who visited the site together with the Divisional Officer to
Bamenda Two Akwo Tanyi R were clearly not happy with the development and
like Johnson A Itoe North West Regional Delegate of Secondary Education observed
that the placing of the explosive in the Church yard was an act by anti-school
supporters who want to distort the academic year which is becoming effective in
the region. According to the officials this is just an act to cause fear in
people not to send their children to school which will however not meet its
target as all measures have been taken to put things under control.
Explosions in
Bamenda and the Azire area have become a regular occurrence with the October 20
incident taking the tally to five. With three police officers hospitalized since
September 21 due to another explosion with a very similar narrative still at
hospital roundabout and others though with no human or material damage, many
more questions than answers are resurfacing including the worry over who is
responsible.
Northwest
Regional Governor Adolph Lele L’Afrique tagged the September 21 incidence to
terrorist but observers have been unanimous asking how a combination of visible
things like a gas bottle will be placed somewhere for officers to seat on
without seeing tthus concluding that there could be foul play from within the
security or limited security intelligence.
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