The ordeal of Annie Florentine Nga, a mother from Yaoundé, has captured national attention, shedding light on the growing insecurity in northern Cameroon.
Her five children were among passengers on a bus attacked by armed kidnappers, and despite ongoing appeals to local and national authorities, they remain in captivity.
“The interminable wait, punctuated by threatening calls and ransom demands, is plunging this mother into unbearable pain,” human rights observers note, reflecting on the anguish endured by families caught in similar crises.
Ms. Nga has tirelessly sought assistance from authorities, her voice now rising as a public alarm against the mounting threats on the country’s roads.
According to her account, her children were travelling from Kousseri to Yaoundé when the bus was intercepted by armed assailants. Passengers were stripped of belongings and forcibly taken to a remote area.
While some hostages were later released, her children remain missing, leaving the family in a state of uncertainty and fear.
The incident raises serious concerns about the safety of intercity transport.
Routes linking Maroua, Kousseri, and other towns in the Far North are frequently targeted by highway bandits, making travel perilous.
Families, often with no alternative but to use these roads, face constant exposure to violent attacks, undermining public confidence and tarnishing Cameroon’s international image.
Security experts say the tragedy underscores the limitations of current protective measures.
With the country engaged on multiple security fronts, authorities struggle to safeguard travellers in certain regions.
Appeals from families, amplified by media coverage, highlight a pressing humanitarian emergency.
Ms. Nga’s plight has become emblematic of the distress experienced by countless parents facing similar situations.
Observers and civil society groups are urging urgent action. Strengthened cooperation between law enforcement, transport agencies, and local authorities is critical to prevent further abductions.
Restoring public confidence, they warn, requires immediate and sustained security interventions, or northern highways will continue to echo with the cries of those left vulnerable.
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