December 28, 2018, Menja village Fako State, Southern Ambazonia: paint a horrifying picture of the brutality inflicted upon innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of conflict. Roasted bodies lay strewn amidst the devastation, bearing witness to the unspeakable violence that ravaged the community. Eyewitness accounts reveal a scene of utter carnage, with more than 35+ individuals forcibly abducted from their homes, their fate uncertain in the wake of the relentless assault. Many others lay injured, their bodies bearing the physical and emotional scars of the merciless onslaught. With callous disregard for human life and dignity, they perpetrated a massacre that left roasted bodies scattered in its wake, inflicting unspeakable horror upon innocent civilians.
This event constitutes a war crime under several international laws, including Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which categorizes war crimes as serious breaches of international humanitarian law, including “willful killing,” “torture or inhumane treatment,” and “extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity.” The deliberate targeting and killing of innocent civilians, including the act of burning bodies, reflect an egregious disregard for human dignity and life. Such actions violate the Fourth Geneva Convention (Articles 3 and 147), which prohibits violence against civilians, including acts of murder, cruel treatment, torture, and the taking of hostages. Furthermore, the forced abduction of over 35 individuals from their homes highlights a clear breach of their protection as civilians under international law, exposing them to enforced disappearance, another serious war crime.
The violence in Menja village also reflects a pattern of collective punishment, where the Cameroon Occupation Forces sought to intimidate and terrorize the local population. This type of attack violates the principle of distinction, which obligates warring parties to distinguish between combatants and civilians, as enshrined in Additional Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions. The scorched-earth tactics—burning bodies, injuring civilians, and destroying their homes—underscore a deliberate strategy to destabilize the Ambazonian community and sow fear. Such acts are illegal under international humanitarian law and reflect clear violations of the prohibition against indiscriminate attacks.
The atrocity in Menja village represents not just a war crime but a crime against humanity due to its scale, cruelty, and deliberate targeting of civilians. Crimes against humanity, as defined under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, include “murder,” “torture,” “extermination,” and “persecution of an identifiable group.” The Cameroonian forces’ systematic violence and their intent to destroy the fabric of Ambazonian society highlight a broader campaign of oppression and terror. These heinous acts demand international condemnation and accountability to uphold justice for the victims and prevent further atrocities.
In the aftermath of this brutal incident, the cries for justice, peace, and accountability grow louder. The international community has a moral and legal obligation to investigate, prosecute, and punish those responsible for these grave crimes. The resilience of the Ambazonian people in the face of such unspeakable horror is a testament to their strength, but the world must ensure that their suffering does not go unanswered. Bringing justice to the victims of Menja village is critical to upholding the principles of humanity and ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated.
MORE VIDEOS OF THE MASSACRE IN SCHOOL: