Eric Tataw, a Bonafide, dreaded and non-repentant Ambazonian Activist based in The United States of America has recently published a short video on his Facebook wall of Ambazonian Defense Forces in the keeping of a man and his two daughters at an unknown location in the Southwest Region of Cameroon.
The narrator in the video explains that their kidnapping is in the Capital of Buea and is for the fact that the troubled-Looking man in the video is sponsoring her daughters in school which is against the laws of the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF). The male voice further narrates that, the two young girls, about 20 years each, had come from school to take part of their fees from their father before getting into their dragnet. He warns others not to fall in same ordeal while promising hell for those already captured.
This video which continues to receive high condemnation from viewer across the board is only one in many that exist in the Anglophone parts of Cameroon since the beginning of armed conflicts in 2017. In other cases, captured School children have been “Garried“(used by activist Tataw to mean chopping off of body parts especially fingers and toes), Teachers have been mutilated and beheaded while many schools, above 6,000 remains in danger serving as habitats or no-go-Zones.
The Separatist Movements have been unanimous despite all attempts by international stakeholders, Local civil society advocates and the Government of Cameroon to have Learners back into the classrooms.
For the 4th Academic year, very few schools remain operational in this part of Cameroon, mostly in the main city Centre, while most of the interior villages under the control of Separatist Fighters have rather adopted some community schools that align with their newfound cultures.
Though the Crisis in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions isn’t same as that of Boko Haram terrorist Group Up North of the Country Stretching from Nigeria, one thing common with both is the denial of Schools to Operate. However, that of The Ambazonia fighters originated from a neglected strike by Anglophone teachers in November 2016 by the Government of Cameroon.
In pursuit of this precious inalienable Human Right, parents and Guardians have evacuated their children to most French Speaking towns across Cameroon with exorbitant sums of money paid as fees. The population of these towns too like Bafoussam, Douala, Yaounde, Bertoua etc., have increased while the most lucrative income sector of the Anglophone regions, Education, being dropped off.
Surprisingly is the fact that, these activists out of the country have their kids in schools littered across the globe. Some themselves are students defending PhDs and other degrees. Many have taken turns in celebrating their academic achievements publicly with their suffering compatriots back home the ultimate question has remained, what future holds for the innocent Children of Fighters, and struggling parents on Ground Zero who keep dying daily?
The Right to Education is encapsulated in international Laws and conventions especially the 1989 Convention on the Right of The Child. Many protocol agreements and even the sustainable Development goals, Number 4 is clear on educational rights.
Many hold that denying Education for the children during this era is a time bomb for the yet-to-be Ambazonian State, a situation that might be worse of the Xenophobia in South Africa.
