The Bishop of the Diocese of Buea, His Lordship Michael Bibi, has condemned in strong terms the killing of some five workers of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) on Thursday, February 10th, 2023, along the Tiko-Douala Road at Mondoni Oil Mill, which is part of Saint Peter’s Parish Mudeka, under his territorial circumscription.
In a release dated Monday, February 13th, 2023, the Prelate writes: “I learnt with a saddened heart the tragic news about five workers of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) Banana Group, comprising four men and one woman, shot dead and several others wounded on Friday February 10, 2023.
According to a Press Release by the General Manager of CDC, signed on February 11, 2023, the workers were returning from work at about 5:30 p.m. when unidentified gunmen attacked the personnel carrier, transporting them along the stretch of road off the Tiko – Douala road from Mondoni Oil Mill found in the circumscription of St. Peter’s Parish Mudeka in the Diocese of Buea.”
According to the Chief Shepherd of Buea, there is no moral, judicial, social or political justification such a heinous crime. “I vehemently condemn with the strongest words this devastating and despicable inhuman act which has no moral, judicial, social or political justification irrespective of the motive. The act is not only a heinous crime against humanity, but a sin against God as no one has the right to take away the life of another for whatever reasons. Human life remains sacrosanct and no one, except God, has power over it (EX 20:13, Evangelium Vitae, 53).”
To Mgr. Bibi, the church cannot remain indifferent to the shedding of innocent blood, kidnapping, banditry and looting that are becoming rife in the society today.
“It is unfortunate that such abominable acts are becoming more and more common in our communities today. As a Christian community we cannot be indifferent to the shedding of innocent bleed, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, looting, and destruction of livelihoods and displacement of people from their homes. In the face of all these, I urge Christians to remain resolute in professing their faith and bearing witness to Christ and to the dignity of all human life.”
Meanwhile, the Bishop of Buea extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, while praying for the quick recovering of the wounded works.
“I extend my sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and share in their pain. I also ask the diocesan communities to pray that God in his infinite mercy may grant eternal rest to the departed souls, heal the wounded, strengthen the survivors and grant true and lasting peace to our country. Let us also pray for the repentance and conversion of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. May God continue to bless and heal our Land.”
Source: https://bueadiocese.org
Mary Ndinge Lyonga is a marketing assistant at Eagle Wings and Spice Located at Mutengene, Tiko Road.
She was once a Volunteer at the Tiko Council Community Radio for a period of 3 months under the Leadership of Mme Sarah Nkongho as the Station Manager. She is a graduate from the department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Faculty of Social and Management Science, University of Buea.