Douala: Four children go missing during a demolition in Yassa

The four children who hail from Ndop in the North West region and escaped the armed conflict alongside their mother to seek refuge in Yassa in the Douala III subdivision went missing during a surprised demolition exercise by the Douala city council precisely at a place called “carrefour” Yassa Monday, June 10, 2024.

Their mother had left the house in the morning to purchase maize only to get news later of the demolition.

She returned to only discover, over a hundred houses were destroyed including the room she occupied with her children who on their part were no where to be found.

“Where do I start from. Is it going picking up some belonging from the rubbles or look for my children? I am stranded in my own country. It implies I escaped from rain and instead fell in a pool of water.” The IDP woman regretted in lamentation.

Considering nothing else important, she went in search of her children in tears and state of dilemma. It was most at sunset that she found her children sitting in a compound away from the demolition zone.

Just like her, many victims decry injustice stating they never received notification of the destruction.

“They just surprised us in the morning with a caterpillar and a lot of policemen and started destroying houses”. A stranded lady with three kids reported.

Speaking to an agent of the Douala city council, he disclosed they had served the population, mostly those whose houses extended to the public road a quit notice on February 7, 2024.

Only a few persons admitted they were cautioned four months ago but regret never being reminded few days before the demolition.

Many were forced to spend the night of Monday in open air. Others managed to recover few of their belongings for a new settlement.