Serenity reigns at GTHS Ombe despite rumours Screenshot from amateur video
Calm is gradually returning to parts of Fako Division in Cameroon’s restive South West Region after the spread of frightening rumors of an armed attack at Government Technical High School, GTHS, Ombe.
The rumor that swept through social media Tuesday morning aroused fear, forcing parents and guardians in Tiko, Limbe, and some parts of Buea to rush for their kids who were already in school.
Parents feared a repeat of Saturday’s attack at a school in Kumba, which left seven students dead, and over a dozen others injured.
Rumoured attack in Ombe sets commotion in Limbe schools (c) WhatsApp
Administrative and security authorities in Fako quickly reassured the population of security, dismissing as fake news the rumored attack in Ombe.
“I had a series of calls telling me that some students had been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ombe. I saw people running helter-skelter to take their children home. I had to rush to see for myself. I went to Ombe along with a representative from the office of the Divisional Officer, the forces of law and order, and the military,” said Chief Peter Ikome Mesoso, Mayor of the Tiko Council.
The Mayor said when they arrived GTHS Ombe, they met no fewer than a thousand parents crowding the school gate, trying to pull it down in search of their children.
“I went there, addressed them, and talked to them to calm down. I entered the school, moving from one classroom to the other. I met the children seated and receiving lessons. The atmosphere was calm. I advised the parents that entering the school to take their children home was rather going to cause a lot of problems,” said Chief Mesoso. “I advised the parents to calmly return home and only return to accompany their children home when schools would have closed for the day.”
The Mayor said from Ombe, his team visited many other schools within Tiko Subdivision including Government Bilingual High School Mutengene, Government Bilingual High School Tiko, Government Bilingual High School Motombolombo, and many other private schools.
“Honestly speaking, nothing had happened. This whole information is a rumor. I want to advise the population of Tiko, parents, and guardians to remain calm. From the schools we have visited, the students are safe. We want to pray that God is going to take us through this hard transition,” said Mayor Mesoso.
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