The Etoug-Ebe bilingual high school is experiencing sinister news this morning of January 22, 2024. Riots have disturbed the tranquility of this populous district of Yaoundé. In the video and still images circulating on social networks, we see students throwing stones at the principal’s vehicle. Others engaged in a vendetta against the riot police. Classes are stopped and parents arrive in a hurry, some picking up their children. “The situation is tense at the Etoug-Ebe bilingual high school. The principal instructed the doorman to now close the gate at 7:30 a.m. Which was respected this morning. Except that more than half of the students were late. They refused to return and decided to force the gate», announced a source as soon as the facts occurred. The news initially reports several deaths. About twenty, twenty, almost twenty, the sources procrastinate.
Jean Marie Djikdent, the prefect of Mfoundi, arriving on the ground, immediately held a crisis meeting. On leaving, the head of the department which houses the capital of Cameroon, has a completely contrary version of the facts. “ Like every Monday morning there is a playing of the national anthem, so it was normal that during the playing of the national anthem, the gate was closed. After the playing of the national anthem, many students wanted to enter at the same time, and jostled those in front. Hence the panic », Explains the prefect of Mfoundi. Refuting the information that there was loss of life: “ there were no deaths at Etoug-Ebe high school“, he declares. “ There were 21 injured who were evacuated to a health facility, and this is verifiable», he continues. Assuring that “ their lives, according to doctors, are not in danger“. Later, the Minister of Public Health, Malachie Manaouda on his tweet account, will mention 106 injured. Still, no authority admits deaths.
Zero deaths
But the head of the territorial administration in Mfoundi seems to have dug deeper into the sources of this situation. “ But beyond this explanation, we must understand the why of this sudden nervousness “, he continued: “ we already note that there was a disciplinary council here last Thursday; Are there certain students who did not want the sanctions to be published?», asks the prefect.
Without attempting an answer, the man assures that “ it must also be said that all this vandalism that we have observed is not only the work of students“. It is that “ many children, young people having no connection with this establishment came to vandalize», informs the head of the territorial administration in the department where the institutions of the republic are located. “ Certainly the students have their share of responsibility; but these vehicles that you see returned, after exploitation of surveillance videos are [le fait de] those who came from outside with two wheels, and we will exploit them to the fullest “, he promises.
