The attack occurred on Saturday, October 24, in Kumba, in the South West Province of Cameroon's Anglophone regions. According to updated media reports, at least seven children were killed and 12 others seriously injured in the attack. The heavily armed militants stormed the private Mother Francisca School in the morning and opened fire on the children, said Ntou Ndong Chamberlain, the senior division officer of the Meme district, where Kumba is located.
The act has caused consternation worldwide. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed shock at the horrific attack. Major church umbrella organizations - the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the All African Conference of Churches (AACC) - and also the Vatican strongly condemn the attack.
Mission 21, long active in Cameroon, is shocked by the brutality of this conflict that has been raging in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon for four years now. Our prayers and thoughts are with the families of the victims and with the traumatized people of Kumba who need our solidarity. Our partner church, the PCC, has issued a powerful statement on this latest incident of senseless violence. All the statements call on Cameroon to consistently prosecute the perpetrators of the attack and to finally work towards peace in the country.
â–º Statement of the PCC (English)
â–º Message and statement on the UN website
â–º Statement of the World Council of Churches, WCC (Web, English)
â–º Statement of the All African Conference of Churches (AACC) (pdf - English)
