Dikolo demolition victims protest

Victims of the Dikolo-Bali demolition have taken to the streets of Douala this August 24 in protest.

They are asking that government compensates them for their losses after using their property for the construction of a hotel. According to them, authorities have been cruelly silent on the issue and their losses are more than before felt with the back-to-school period knocking on their doors.

The victims carried placards to the demolition site with messages like: “School is starting. I have lost everything. Where do I go?” “where is my house?”, “School is starting soon with neither a house nor book” among others.

Since the demolition on May 14, the victims say they have been fruitlessly waiting for government to compensate them.

Some civil society leaders and lawyers met to discuss on the issue with the hope that positive results are seen sooner rather than later.

“The first ministries we expected to see were those of social affairs and women’s empowerment. Unfortunately they failed to show up and take actions. That is why we encouraged these children whose education is at stake to join their parents in the manifestation so that the population could come to their aid” explains Patience Essoka, a civil society leader.

Many of the victims are yet to get result of findings from an inquiry commission created to that effect.