Bishop Nkea calls for human life respect as extrajudicial killings increase

The President of the National Episcopal Conference, Bishop Andrew Nkea has called for the respect of human life following the increasing rate of homicides and killings in the country.

This was during the 48th plenary session of Bishops held in Yaounde on April 18th.

“We are launching a very strong appeal to all Cameroonians to stop killing each other. We are all brothers and sisters of the same homeland and children of the same God who is our father to all, “said the Archbishop of Bamenda, reaffirming the sacredness of human life.

The bishops say they are saddened by the numerous extrajudicial killings that have been ongoing in the country. They cited the first case of the assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo in Yaounde. They call on all to respect human life, which is a gift from God from the moment of conception until natural death.

This appeal comes in a context of an upsurge in homicides in the country with the most recent incident taking place in Nanga-Eboko in the Centre region where six members of the same family were murdered last April 5.

Femicide cases are also reportedly on a rise. According to a count of the daily, Le Jour, April 17th edition, more than 15 women were killed within 52 days in the country. The most recent case is that of a teacher from the Bilingual High School Mokolo, Far North region who was killed by her husband on April 12th following an argument.

The Bishop calls on the authorities concerned to ensure that its citizens are protected and that the culprits of such acts are brought to book.

Bishop Andrea Nkea also highlighted other social ills plaguing the country. He mentioned the socio-political crises in the North West and South West regions, agricultural difficulties, the absence of farm-to-market roads, the Covid-19 pandemic, and high cost of living amongst others.

However, he noted that relative calm has returned to the Anglophone regions as some companies have begun reopening their doors and children have been returning to school. He says it is a sign of hope.

Despite threats from the terrorist group Boko Haram in the Far North and the Anglophone crisis, Bishop Nkea assures the determination of the Catholic Church to pray and work for peace in Cameroon.