A Happy Denouement

When news of the release of the three clerics; Rev. Fathers Gianantonio Alligri and Giampaolo Marta from Venice in Italy and Rev. Sister Gilberte Bussiere from Canada, was disclosed early yesterday 1 June 2014 to Cameroon Tribune by our Maroua Desk's Chief correspondent, it sounded like a dream. But by 9:45 a.m, an official statement signed by the Minister, Secretary General at the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, was read on CRTV Radio confirming the news. It became clear then that no cover-up hung over the information on the three victims who were kidnapped on 4 April 2014 at Tcherie in Meri Subdivision in the Maroua-Mokolo Diocese.

The coincidence between the abduction and the recent visit to the Far North by defence officials from Yaounde had appeared like an act of provocation by the Boko Haram sect that was not in its first exploit in the locality. Cameroon suffered two other kidnappings by the militants last year with a French priest, Georges Vandenbeusch and the Fournier-Moulin family of seven. They were later liberated, thanks to the diplomatic tact of President Paul Biya and the valiant Cameroonian defence forces working in collaboration with Nigeria.

With the three clerics freed yesterday, it looks evident that Cameroon is more than embroiled in an interminable battle with the sect that has since 2009 intensified attacks in some parts of neighbouring Nigeria. Their recent incursions into Cameroon and other neighbouring countries have led to international condemnation, especially with the abduction of over 200 school girls in Nigeria in April. All the incidents that have involved foreign nationals in Cameroon have appeared as calculated attempts to brandish the country as unsafe and insecure.

Unfortunately for those who think that way, the country has in each of the instances stood up to the challenge. President Paul Biya stated yesterday in the official announcement of the liberation of the clerics that Cameroon will continue to be a haven of peace and stability where the respect of human rights remains a primordial concern. That has been manifest in the numerous prayers that were organised across the country for the liberation of the clerics. The Head of State had to appreciate such prayers in the press statement made public following the liberation.

Again, Cameroonians from all walks of life have not hesitated in demonstrating their indignation at such acts of aggression towards the country in general, the religious and foreign tourists in particular. It was certainly because of the loathsome nature of the aggressive acts and the instability they create in the country that elite of the northern part of Cameroon gathered over the weekend in Garoua and Maroua to publicly state their resentment and sensitise the local population on the dangers of reserving any iota of sympathy for people who paint Cameroon black.

All the operations of the sect seem to indicate that the conventional military defence strategies may not be enough to tackle an onslaught orchestrated by people who have no recognised base, but exploit hit-and-run tactics. They have often taken hostages in their sleep when any peace-loving citizen ought to be taking a quite rest after a hard day's job.

By succeeding each time to safely secure the release of innocent citizens taken captive on Cameroonian soil, the Head of State has proven to any doubting Thomas' that the country can hold its grounds in front of any threat, no matter how obscure. Yet, the fact remains that the notion of public defence requires much collaboration from the people who should be able to draw the attention of the authorities to the presence of any suspect within their locality. It is only by so doing that defence forces can effectively ensure the arduous task of securing people and their property from any marauders. The denouement that the case of the three religious got yesterday is undoubtedly the result of a combination of efforts from members of the public, the forces of law and order, and the political authorities, at least to go by the terms of the Presidential statement announcing the release.