By Nfor Hanson Nchanji
Questions surrounding the organisation and safety of a religious trip that ended in the deaths of five young worshippers in Mudeka, Tiko Subdivision, remain unanswered in statements provided by Ark of God’s leadership, as bereaved families challenge accounts circulating about the fatal boat accident.
The accident occurred during the night of September 22-23, 2026, when a motorised canoe carrying church members to an island in the Atlantic Ocean for prayer capsized shortly after leaving shore, according to a communiqué issued by the Fako senior divisional officer on September 23, 2026.
Four girls and one boy died, while seven others were injured. The victims were students from educational institutions in Buea, the communiqué said.
Nearly three weeks after the tragedy, families are seeking explanations about the purpose of the journey, the arrangements made for the young worshippers and whether adequate safety precautions were taken.
Prophet John Chi, leader of Ark of God, issued a statement expressing condolences, calling for prayers for the grieving families and announcing three days of mourning.
However, the statement provided in a video format during Church service, which CNA has seen, did not address who organised the trip, who supervised the young people or what measures were taken to protect them during the journey.
Family Challenges Account of Trip
The family of late Phina Bemsimbom has challenged claims that the students were travelling to work in preparation for Apostle John Chi’s birthday celebration.
Dr. Princess Doreen M. Doreenad Nayah, founder of TeenAlive-Cameroon, an NGO, said the family maintains that Phina went on the journey to worship and receive the Word of God, not to work at a birthday event.
Nayah said the family has a video showing Phina and other passengers travelling by boat on a Thursday before the fatal accident. She said the footage shows passengers travelling without life jackets in daylight.
According to Nayah, Phina’s mother and other relatives had urged her not to return for another journey, but she insisted on going to worship.
The family is questioning why passengers were all travelling without life jackets during the earlier trip and what safety arrangements were not made for the journey that ended in tragedy.
The Ark of God has not addressed these specific concerns in the statements provided to the Church and on the Ark of God Tv.
Mother Recounts Search for Zita Kehkuna Luma
The mother of another deceased worshipper, Zita Kehkuna Luma, has also raised questions about the journey and the church’s communication with bereaved families.
In her account, the mother said John Chi had told those who wanted to go on the trip to wait for him on Tuesday. She said a group, with her inlcusive, went ahead to the Mudeka area of Tiko, while the young people were expected to join them later.
The adults waited for the young people but became concerned when they failed to arrive. The mother said they subsequently received calls informing them that the boat had capsized.
She revealed that the passengers had no life jackets and were carrying rice and other supplies in the boat.
In a video that has circulted online, which CNA obtained, the mother described the search for the victims, saying families moved between Buea General Hospital, Mutengene Hospital and Tiko as they tried to locate their children. She said four bodies were initially found at the Tiko mortuary, while two others arrived later.
According to the mother, John Chi was in Buea and had not gone to the prayer ground, this contradicts the video sent out by the Ark of God saying that John Chi was in Bafoussam and Bamenda. It is not clear of the mother meant John Chi, referring to the Church’s instructions and not the person in particular.
She said he asked the families to identify their children and return to him. He reportedly told them he had a birthday occasion to attend and would contact them afterward. At the time of her account, the families were still waiting for his call.
The mother’s account has not been independently corroborated by CNA. It raises further questions about who coordinated the journey, how the young worshippers were supervised and what communication took place between church leadership and the families after the accident. Was it John Chi himself who coordinated the joourney or was it his aides? These questions are begiing for answers.
Church Leader Announces Mourning
In a statement delivered on Sunday after the incident, John Chi expressed sympathy for the grieving families and prayed that God would comfort them and fill the void left by the deceased.
He called on Christians to pray for the wider body of Christ, requested a minute of silence in honour of the deceased and described them as heroes of faith who lost their lives while carrying out God’s mission.
He also announced three days of mourning, from Monday through Wednesday.
The statement focused on mourning and spiritual consolation. It did not explain the circumstances of the journey, identify the person responsible for organising it or address questions about life jackets and supervision.
For the bereaved families, however, condolences and mourning have not resolved the questions surrounding the deaths of their children.
Fako SDO Orders Investigation
The Fako SDO’s communiqué said the canoe appeared to be old and in poor condition when it capsized shortly after leaving shore.
The official statement confirmed five deaths and seven injuries and said an investigation had been opened under the supervision of the State Counsel attached to the Tiko Court of First Instance.
The investigation was expected to establish the exact cause of the accident and the purpose of the religious pilgrimage at sea.
The investigation’s findings are expected to clarify what happened and establish whether any safety failures or other factors contributed to the tragedy.
Humanitarian Announces Possible Legal Action
Humanitarian, Ayah Ayah Abine, of the Ayah Foundation, has announced that he reached an agreement in principle with a team of four lawyers and a bereaved family to pursue legal action over the incident.
In a statement, Abine said the group was prepared to take legal steps against those who believed religious status conferred immunity from the law.
His announcement signals the possibility of legal proceedings, although it does not establish that a case has been filed or that a court has determined responsibility for the deaths.
Questions Remain Unanswered
The accounts CNA has seen raises several questions that Ark of God’s leadership has yet to address in the statements reviewed for this report.
Who organised the journey to the island? Who was responsible for supervising the young worshippers? Were life jackets provided, and were passengers required to wear them? What was the purpose of the trip, and what arrangements were made for the safety of those travelling by canoe?
For the families, the loss is personal and irreversible. Their children left for a religious activity and never returned home.
They were young, in their early 20s, sent to school but cane back in coffins.
