‘Rebels’ raze residence of witchcraft suspects

A house in Mile 16 Bolifamba-Buea, belonging to the Tangwa family was, June 20, burnt down by an irate group of youths described as ‘rebels’ by the community.

According to sources within the community, the family had been suspected for a long time of involvement in and practice of witchcraft and when some four youths died in March 2013 “mysteriously”, the family was accused of being responsible. The entire Tangwa family fled their residence about a year ago after being labeled as murderers and threatened with elimination.

According to information gathered from the neighbourhood, it was alleged that the Tangwa’s had “sneaked back” from their hiding and were trying to reinstate themselves in their deserted residence.

The rumour spread like wild fire in the neighbourhood and ruthless members of the community who had since carried a grudge and nursed hate against the Tangwas, armed with gasoline, sticks and machetes, at about midday on June 20, stormed the residence and set it ablaze, presumably thinking the Tangwas were hiding inside.

Some of the ‘rebels’ who were apparently proud of committing the arson, told The Post later that they had hoped the Tangwas were in the house to burn to death. They were, thus, disappointed that nobody was in as they found out when the flames were out.

The incident, sources said, sparked off when some persons were seen loitering around the Tangwa residence and neighbours immediately presumed it was the Tangwas trying to resettle in their house.

One of the arsonists, in his 40s, whose name was not disclosed, when told that their act was tantamount to prejudice, human rights abuse, taking the law into their hands and absolutely illegal, he retorted in Pidgin English: “Na we get dis town and na we di run things dem for here, we no need no police for tell we wati for do,” which translates (We own and run this town; we don’t need the police to tell us what to do).