YAOUNDE, Cameroon — A discovery near the border with Nigeria, Cameroon military officials have uncovered a mass grave containing the remains of nine civilians, among them five government officials.
Rebels abducted these individuals in June of last year.
Cameroon government forces were directed to the site of the mass grave by a former separatist fighter, who, after involvement in the heinous act, decided to lay down arms and join a disarmament initiative.
Located approximately 20 kilometers from Ekondo Titi in Ndian, close to the Nigerian border, the grave tells a grim tale of an area fraught with tension and recurrent separatist incursions.
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Nguele led the mission, confirming that the bodies had been retrieved and would be transported to Buea for families to undertake identification processes.
“These souls can finally be put to rest,” said Nguele, “Their status changed from ‘missing’ to ‘deceased’.”
Notorious separatist general, 10 Kobo, is believed to have orchestrated the abductions last June.
Shortly thereafter, separatist forces took to social media, alleging that these officials were taken due to perceived alliances with the central government.
Mabia Johnson Mudika, one of the abducted officials, met his fate just days after the incident, while the status of the others remained shrouded in mystery.
Clues emerged only recently when Tamaya Clinton, a former separatist who defected, divulged that his comrades had killed the officials.
While it remains unclear whether Clinton played a part in guiding the military to the site, the grim discovery has stirred sentiments on both sides.
Governor Bernard Bilai of the Southwest Region passionately spoke on Cameroon’s state broadcaster CRTV on Saturday, August 5, 2023.
He highlighted the sheer brutality of the separatist forces and made a fervent plea for the remaining fighters to either surrender or face the might of the government troops.
Originating in 2017, the roots of the separatist conflict trace back to grievances from English-speaking regions against perceived marginalization by the French-speaking majority.
The military’s harsh response to initial protests escalated matters, leading to full-blown conflict, claiming thousands of lives and resulting in many displacements.
The International Crisis Group’s estimates suggest a death toll of around 6,000 and displacements exceeding 750,000.
