“Following the fierce gun battle between military forces and the armed separatists on the premises of St Augustine's College Kumbo… a security meeting was held with the municipal administration of the Bui (Kumbo) Division in which the governor, Lele Adolphe L'Afrique revealed the plan of the government to rid the town of Kumbo of armed separatists,” Fr. Godlove tells ACI Africa.
He narrates that through the operation dubbed ‘Operation Clean up Kumbo’, a huge number of military forces raided the localities of Tadu, Buh and Ngamatse within Kumbo on the night of May 16.
“Most of the villagers, already aware of the security meeting, had fled their homes into nearby bushes,” the Catholic Priest says, and adds, “The military looted household items and livestock before setting houses ablaze.”
Over 31 houses were razed and 6 people, who could not flee with the rest of the population, were killed, he further says.
“The people learnt that the government forces were looking for General No Pity, the dreaded leader of the separatist fighters who has been a thorn in the flesh of government forces and led many missions in which many soldiers have been killed and large quantities of weapons carted away,” Fr. Godlove says.
Earlier this month, the 33-year-old Priest informed ACI Africa of an intense fighting that erupted on the premises of St Augustine’s Catholic Secondary School Kumbo, where Catholic Bishops of the country had gathered for the commemoration of the Priestly anniversary of Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo Diocese.
Fr. Godlove told ACI Africa that the war was not aimed to disrupt the religious proceedings.
“The provocation from freedom fighters or Amba boys, as the armed separatists are called, and the consequent response from the military which resulted in a sustained shootout between the two camps, from all indication, was not aimed at disrupting the religious exercise, but rather because of the heavy militarization of the area as the Governor of the Northwest Region Mr. Adolphe Lele L’Afrique was participating at the Mass,” he said.
He added, in reference to the religious event, which was interrupted, “The situation became as tense as the Christians were most of the time lying prostrate in order to avoid being caught by stray bullets. Fortunately, the ceremony went on till the end and there were no human casualties.”
In the Friday, May 21 communiqué to ACI Africa, Fr. Godlove who has undergone immense suffering at the hands of both the military and separatists said that Church ministers in the country continue to be harassed.