By Ndi Eugene Ndi
The explosion that killed a student and injured several others at the Nkambe grandstand in the Donga Mantung Division of the North West region on Sunday February 11, has sparked widespread condemnation both locally and internationally.
One student died and over 50 others injured when the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated at a corner of ceremonial ground where thousands of students were celebrating the 58th Youth Day.
President Paul Biya described the explosion as a “heinous act committed by cowardly individuals”.
“I strongly condemn this terrorist act,” Biya tweeted after the incident.
The Head of State also conveyed his sincere condolences to the family of Cherish Lemnyuy, the student killed in the blast. Lemnyuy was a Form Four student of Government High School Nyanji in Nkambe.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkambe, Hon Gerard Ngala regretted the incident that occurred at the end of “a very successful” celebration of the Youth Day.
“We condemn this barbaric act with our last energy. We call on the sons and daughters of Nkambe to more vigilant,” Hon Ngala said.
WICUDA, NKACUDA condemn
The Wimbum Cultural and Development Association (WICUDA), and the Nkambe Cultural and Development Association (NKACUDA) both condemned the blast.
WICUDA said the children who had rallied to celebrate the Youth Day “did not expect to see their celebration turn into lamentation”.
WICUDA president, Rogers Nforgwei launched an appeal for assistance to the victims of the “heinous act”.
NKACUDA referred to the blast as a “wicked and inhuman act perpetrated by evil hands against the peace-loving people of Nkambe”.
“We wish to reiterate here that, Nkambe from the beginning of the socio-political crisis had opted for a peaceful approach in seeking solutions to a crisis, as opposed to the use of violence and arms,” NKACUDA said in a statement.
Diplomatic missions weigh in
The attack was also widely condemned by the diplomatic community in Cameroon who were unanimous that school children should never be the target of violence.
In its condemnation, the US Embassy in Yaounde said “there is absolutely no justification for an attack against civilians, or children in particular”.
Appalled by the blast, the British High Commission in Yaounde said “civilians should never be a target”.
The Spanish Embassy said the blast was “an unqualifiable, unjustifiable and inhuman attack”.
The European Union firmly condemned what it described as “unqualifiable attack against civilians and children”.
Neither the government nor the diplomatic institutions have talked about the exact number of victims or degree of injuries sustained. However, grisly images circulated on the social media show victims with life-threatening injuries.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast but separatist fighters pushing for the separation of English speakers from the majority French-speaking Cameroon had declared a three days lockdown in the English speaking North West and South West regions to disrupt the National Youth Day celebrations.
