Girl’s Killing Triggers MINAT Crackdown on 1,400 Revival Churches
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has summoned leaders of the Cameroon Life and Peace Evangelical Mission following the killing of an 11-year-old girl in Nkolndongo, Yaoundé IV Subdivision, about two weeks ago.
Authorities allege the child was killed after a pastor of the church reportedly described her as a demon.
During a meeting Wednesday in Yaoundé with a delegation led by the church’s Secretary General, Apostle Philippe Obaker, Atanga Nji condemned the incident, saying places of worship are meant to protect human life rather than endanger it.
Citing a report from the Yaoundé IV Divisional Officer, the minister reminded church leaders that they are responsible for the teachings delivered within their congregations and the conduct of ministers serving under their authority.
“The church is there to save lives and not to take lives. Murder is prohibited by the laws of the Republic and by the principles of every genuine religious faith,” Atanga Nji said.
He instructed the church to strengthen the training of its pastors through seminars and civic education programs and ordered a 14-day nationwide census of all its representatives and legally recognized structures to facilitate administrative oversight.
“A presidential decree granting legal recognition cannot be subcontracted. Church leaders will be held accountable for the actions of structures operating under their authority,” he said.
The minister also announced that authorities would soon shut down about 1,400 revival churches operating with persistent administrative irregularities, warning that the government’s period of tolerance had ended.
“The era of tolerance is over. The State has a duty to protect citizens and ensure that religious activities are carried out within the law,” Atanga Nji said.
The meeting ended with a call on the Cameroon Life and Peace Evangelical Mission to strengthen internal oversight, promote teachings that respect the laws of the Republic, and work closely with public authorities to prevent similar incidents.
