OPINION: Shooting of Dr. Chris, reprehensible act
By Hans Ngala
As journalists, we are often required to keep our opinions and sentiments out of the stories we report. But you find yourself in a conflict of interest all its own when the news is about someone you’ve known almost all your life.
For me, that was the case with the story about Dr. Nkwawir Christopher. We met as Form One students at Saint Augustine’s College (SAC) in Kumbo back in September 2003 (can’t believe it’s been 21 years now). Chris was from a relatively well-to-do family, and I soon noticed that he was one of the brightest students in class – always among the top three. Staying true to my mother’s counsel to only associate with students who were taking their studies seriously, I approached Chris during those first few weeks in school, and we became really close during the five years I spent in SAC.
I left SAC in Form Five and went for high school in Government Bilingual High School (GBHS) Kumbo, while Chris remained in SAC. He went off to the University of Buea, and I went off to the University of Yaoundé I.
I later began working as a communications officer with the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services, while he worked as a gynecologist at the Regional Hospital in Bamenda.
Chris and I stayed in touch via phone and social media and shared a lot of our stories with one another.
On 9 December 2024, I woke up to read a message on our class WhatsApp group that Chris had been shot at point-blank range as he was returning to his car after watching a football match at a local bar. His assailant struggled with him for the car keys and then shot him at close range. As I read the details, I remember the sleep I was feeling just vanish. I sat up in bed and wondered who could have done this, but my fear soon turned to rage.
What justification was there for shooting a medical doctor? There was none. It is unclear at this time who shot him, but suspicions are rife that it is separatist fighters. They made away with his car and phone, making it impossible to reach the humble Dr. Chris.
The shooting of Dr. Chris brings to mind the shooting of a nurse with the CBC back in 2022. At the time, Shey Janet was returning from a medical outreach to a village on the outskirts of Bamenda when the clearly-labelled CBC van she and other nurses and doctors were riding in was shot at by separatist fighters around Mile 90 in Bamenda. Janet lost her life on the spot.
Condemnation from the international community was swift, including from the United Nations, but it came too late.
In the case of Dr. Chris, he, like many other medical workers, is an unfortunate victim of a senseless war being fought by Cameroonian soldiers and various fringe separatist groups. Civilians in the NW and SW of the country are the ones paying the heavy price for this war by being repeatedly kidnapped, extorted by both sides, and sometimes paying even the ultimate price.
Dr. Chris’s case is particularly heartbreaking because he refused to abandon his hometown when it needed him most. He was previously kidnapped in 2023 and had some money taken from him, but even so, he refused to leave town, asking instead, “If I leave at this time, who will take care of the sick?” His dedication to his community makes the shooting even more tragic.
Dr. Chris has now become a patient in the same hospital where he used to care for others, just because a lunatic with a gun decided to hurt him. While he battles for his life, this is yet another urgent reminder to all parties in the conflict that there are never any victors in any war, only casualties. It is also an opportunity for the Cameroonian people and government to realize that dialogue is the way out of this.
The value of medical personnel in conflict zones cannot be overstated. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are the lifeline for many in these areas, often putting their own lives at risk to provide essential medical care. The international community and the warring parties should take note: medical staff should never be targets. Attacks on medical personnel undermine not only the provision of healthcare, but also the fundamental principles of human dignity and international law. In times of war, medical personnel should be afforded protection under the Geneva Conventions, ensuring that they can work without fear of violence or retaliation. Without this protection, the already dire humanitarian situation in conflict zones worsens, leading to more deaths and suffering.
Cameroon, already grappling with an acute shortage of medical staff, cannot afford to lose more of its dedicated healthcare professionals. Many have already fled the NW and SW regions, driven by fear and attacks on their lives and work. But those who stay, like Dr. Chris, show an extraordinary commitment to serving their communities, despite the dangers. These are the very people we must protect, not harm. It is a grim reality that doctors and nurses face in conflict zones, but their resilience and courage should be celebrated, not punished.
The government and separatist groups must recognize the vital role medical workers play and ensure their safety. This includes facilitating conditions that allow doctors and nurses to work without fear of being attacked or imprisoned. It is clear that this war will not be won on the battlefield alone; it is also essential to win the peace through dialogue, where the safety of civilians and medical personnel is prioritized. Dialogue, not violence, is the key to restoring peace and security. Only through this can doctors and nurses continue to care for the sick, and the conflict’s horrors can be brought to an end.
Dr. Chris’s shooting is an example of the senseless violence that has become all too common in the NW and SW regions. But it is also an opportunity for all of us to reflect on what needs to change. The solution lies in dialogue—dialogue that leads to an end to the violence, a restoration of safety, and the protection of all those who work to heal the wounds of the conflict, rather than become its victims.
Godspeed, my friend, and get well soon.
