While the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kumbo, the United Nations and other groupings suggest that no fewer than 23 persons died in Ngarbuh last Friday, February 14, 2020 following a military operation, the Cameroon Government says seven separatists were killed while five civilians died following an “unfortunate accident”.

The army spokesman Colonel Cyrille Atonfack Guemo, Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo and Communication Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi have each taken turns to clarify that the civilian deaths in Ngarbuh were the result of an “unfortunate accident” which happened when fuel exploded in an exchange of gunfire with separatists in the area. Their accounts put the death toll at twelve – seven separatist fighters and five civilians.

They state that defense and security forces indeed carried out a “reconnaissance operation” in the area in a bid to dislodge a “separatist arms and logistics base”.  They clarify public opinion that in an attack that ensued, “seven terrorists and bandits” were killed.

“During the clashes, a fire broke out in the terrorists’ fortification in the same house, causing explosions, before spreading to neighboring houses. This fire reportedly claimed the lives of five persons – a woman and four children – far from the massacre relayed on social media,” Defense Minister Beti Assomo Joseph said in a press release February 17, 2020, a version corroborated by Communication Minister Rene Sadi Tuesday.

Contrary to Government account, Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor Anyior alias Agbor Balla, President/Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, said at least 27 civilians were “murdered by state defense forces”.

Taking to Facebook Sunday morning, the human rights lawyer writes: “The gruesome murder of 27 civilians including women and children by the State Defense Forces on 14 February 2020 in Ngarbuh, Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region in Cameroon must be investigated and the perpetrators of such egregious crimes brought to justice.”

He furthered on Monday that: “The death toll from the massacre in Ngarbuh-Ntubaw in Cameroon has risen to 32 with some children and pregnant women still missing. The military officers responsible for these heinous crimes must be brought to justice. These crimes clearly amount to crimes against humanity. The culture of impunity must stop. No to Impunity and Yes to Accountability.”

After the communiqué from the Minister of Defense, Agbor Balla insisted that there is need for an independent inquiry into what happened in Ngarbuh.

Hear him: “I just read the reaction of the Ministry of Defense on the Ngarbuh Massacre. My recommendation is that, In order to lay this matter to rest, an independent Commission of Inquiry should be set up to investigate the killings. The Commission should include members of the civil society, clergy and government. The Commission should be headed by a clergy of impeccable character.”

On his part, Akere Muna, Candidate to the 2018 presidential election and former President of the Cameroon Bar Association regretted that killings have become the new normal in the North West and South West regions.

“Ngar village, Donga Mantung - Suffering, death and killing are now the new normal. How did we get here were human life no longer has any value? We must all, now, genuinely seek for peace before this country loses its soul. I pray for all those innocent victims,” Akere tweeted Saturday.

On Tuesday, Akere expressed dissatisfaction with the statement made by Government regarding the issue. The ace lawyer tweeted: “One life lost is one life too many. It is not about numbers but about humanity. Calling the loss of life "simply collateral damage" kills them a second time. My heart bleeds, but I know the people of Ngarbuh will rise up and they will 1,000 times again.”

The Cameroon Renaissance Movement of Prof. Maurice Kamto is also known to have charged government with the incident in Ngarbuh.

Reacting to the newspaper stories against his person, Barrister Agbor Balla said: “I will not be bullied or intimidated by such headlines. I stand for the truth and will always speak the truth. I stand for the oppressed, suppressed and the marginalized. They need a voice and I am ready to pay the price to defend their rights. No To Impunity! Yes To Accountability!”

Cameroon-info.net recalls that Beti Assomo Joseph, Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Defence in a communiqué Monday said “The Ministry of Defense henceforth reserves the right to prosecute before the competent courts the authors of fake news against it, in compliance with the law.”

Many are wondering why the newspapers did not indict the Bishop of Kumbo and UN officials who have put the Ngarbuh death toll at 23 and above, contrary to government clarifications on the subject.

Cameroon-info.net understands that Agbor Balla was arrested on January 17, 2017 and released on August 31, 2017 in relation to the Anglophone crisis. Maurice Kamto was arrested in January 2019 following post presidential election protests and released in October 2019 in keeping with resolutions at the Major National Dialogue. Akere Muna is known to have been summoned once at the Gendarmerie in connection with the on-going socio-political situation.