Cameroon: CFWIJ Condemns The Killing Of Journalist Rebecca Jeme Iyabo In An Ied Attack

Location: Cameroon
Date: January 8, 2021

The separatist attack on a convoy in Njikwa, the North-West region of Cameroon, resulted in the unfortunate killing of Rebecca Jeme and four military officials. Rebecca, popularly known as Becky Jeme, was the top Divisional Delegate for Communication for Momo. The attack also claimed the lives of four military officials. The news came as a shock to her friends and fellow journalists who described her as a person full of life.

Momo's divisional communications delegate Becky Jeme Iyabo  was killed in the separatist attack. The other men she was travelling with are still alive and were evacuated to a nearby hospital center. A video posted on the internet shows the convoy cars completely wrecked and engulfed in flames. People present at the scene can be seen running from where the incident took place. Deben Tchoffo, governor of Cameroon’s North West region, announced on Wednesday that a roadside bomb exploded near a convoy, resulting in five casualties.

Tchoffo said that the delegation was returning to the town of Mbengwi from Njikwa, where the government officials went for the posting of administrators. Legion commander of the North West, Colonel Boum Bissoue, issued a statement in which he stated that the convoy came in contact with an IED in Njikwa. His release further confirmed that four soldiers died in the attack, along with journalist Becky Jeme.

Journalist circles were taken aback by the news of Rebecca Jeme’s death. Journalists throughout the country have been mourning her loss. Just a day before the attack, she had returned from her annual leave in Buea. Sadly, her first assignment of the year ended in her demise.

Rosaline Obah, a coordinator for the Cameroon Community Media Network, expressed her grief while saying that the separatist crisis has killed more than 3,000 people in the past four years.  Obah said journalists should never be targeted by separatist fighters nor by government troops.

Obha said that "Our job is to report the news and say it as it is and in no way should we be considered as parties or actors in conflict. And so we condemn in very strong terms the killing of our colleague." She also emphasized that a call for open dialogue is desperately needed.
Regina Sondo, an Africa-based reporter for France 24 English, tweeted about the sad demise of Rebecca Jeme.

The Divisional Delegate for Communication for Momo Division, North West region, Becky Jeme Iyabo, has died in a separatist attack around Njikwa Wednesday morning.

Local reports say five Cameroonian soldiers died in the same attack. pic.twitter.com/Y38pOVKCuY

— Regina Sondo (@ReginaSondoM) January 6, 2021

The human rights activist Agbor Nkongho also took to Twitter to condemn the killing of Becky, and offered his condolences to the bereaved families.

I strongly condemn the killing of Becky Jeme and others by Non State Actors in Mbengwi in the North West Region of Cameroon. My heartfelt and sincere condolences to the bereaved families. pic.twitter.com/J4xLfUYbdP

— Agbor Nkongho (@AgborNkonghoF) January 6, 2021

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is deeply saddened by this tragic incident and the loss of yet another woman journalist. We demand authorities to create a safe environment for journalists, where their safety is of utmost priority. We hope that the sacrifice of Becky Jeme will not go in vain, and this will push the authorities to take necessary preventive measures against future attacks.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

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