Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Douala (Agenzia Fides) - "We have faith that the Cardinal and the others will be released safe and sound. We are looking for all possible ways to ensure their release. We invite Cameroonians to pray to God", said His Exc. Mgr. George Nkuo, Bishop of Kumbo, who says he is optimistic about the release of His Eminence Cardinal Christian Tumi, Archbishop Emeritus of Douala, who was kidnapped yesterday, November 5 around 6pm on the Bamenda-Kumo road (north-west). Twelve other people, including King Fon of Nso, a traditional moral authority, were also reportedly kidnapped.
The kidnappers are allegedly a group of "Ambazonian" separatists led by a certain "General Chaomao", a former pastor who allegedly accused him of "bringing the children back to school". On 24 October, 8 children were killed by suspected separatist aggressors in Kumba, in the southwest, during an attack on their college, the Madre Francisca International Bilingual Academy (see Fides, 26/10/2020)
The kidnapping of Cardinal Tumi, 90, was condemned by many Cameroonians. This comes less than a week after eleven Presbyterian Nursery and Primary School teachers were kidnapped from their school campus in Kumbo.
The Cardinal has been engaged in resolving the crisis that has shaken the north-west and south-west of Cameroon since 2016, and has repeatedly invited the government and English-speaking separatists to an inclusive dialogue for a concerted solution to the conflict in the north-west and south-west of the country. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 6/11/2020)
