Victims of the accident which occurred on May 26, they were buried last Saturday.
Explosion of cries at the opening of room B of the morgue of the Laquintinie hospital in Douala. It’s 7:50 a.m. On the ground, eleven coffins are arranged. The names of those who lost their lives in the traffic accident that occurred in Edéa on May 26 while on their way to the burial of one of their own, Ngo Nsii Jeanne, are inscribed on each of the eleven coffins. At the sight of the remains of these people, cries and sadness.
Difficult to hold back. Men and women are crying out loud. The members of the large Ngock family in the district of Ndom rush to the coffins placed on the ground on which some women literally lie down. Calling the names of those loved ones. “Helen, why did you do this to me?” Why such a sudden departure? We should meet again in the village for your mom’s funeral, and they only call me to tell me that you had the accident and died. Today, here you are lying in a coffin”, laments a lady.
Some women, at the end of fainting, collapse. Three in total. One after the other. They are immediately rescued by men present in the room. Almost identical scene in the courtyard of the morgue of this health facility, Friday, June 09, 2023, on the occasion of the lifting of the bodies of the victims of the Edéa accident of May 26. Women who have lost their strength are supported on both sides. Some men, eyes red with pain, wonder. “How do we cry like this? Who are you going to mourn and leave who? Eleven bodies, Lord. I am in pain. My heart is bleeding, ”says a man who lets tears flow. Gradually, visitors are directed out of the morgue enclosure to allow the transport of the bodies to be prepared.
Traditional rituals
Outside the morgue, three Hiace-type vehicles are parked. While everyone is wondering about the transport of these bodies, a first truck in the colors of the army arrives, then a second. It is 8h20min. One after another, they enter the morgue and come out with the coffins. Six coffins are placed in the first truck, and five in the second. Wreaths of flowers are placed there.
A few family members sit in front of the trucks. In the back, others sit on the coffins. And a few minutes later, the two trucks loaded with coffins leave the morgue, with signs of goodbye from people sitting in the back.
It’s 8:55 a.m.
The three coaster type vehicles will follow later with members of this family inside, towards the Ngock village. According to the funeral program, traditional rites are planned. “These rites aim to break with these accidents. It is a question of putting an end to this tragedy which has affected our family. And so, rites will be performed before their burial. This blood that has flowed must stop. And if we don’t do these rites, sooner or later blood can flow again. It is tradition. And we have to do it,” says a family member.
On site in Ndom, the ceremony attracted an impressive crowd of people. “The ceremony in the village drained a lot of people, like in Douala. We arrived at the village a little late because we experienced some complications with the vehicles on the way. But the bodies were already there. The burial took place around 4 a.m. Everything went well. I had already informed the authorities of what was to happen”, notes Etienne Killeng, the president of the Ngock family in Douala. Among the authorities present, the sub-prefect, the mayor of Ndom, the municipal councilors and several other people from neighboring towns and villages.
On the reasons which led to the burial of the remains in the middle of the night, the head of the family explains. “It was about taking our bodies and keeping them. We will prepare to grieve properly later. It was not a bereavement like the others”, explains Etienne Killeng who thanks the State for the support they have received since the occurrence of this accident. “The state has accompanied us a lot in this mourning. We had through the governor of the Littoral region and Professor Noel Emmanuel Essomba, director of the Laquintinie hospital, free access to the morgue. We benefited from the free transport of the bodies. It is important. We were quite supported, ”he says, grateful.
