Six injured, Cars Destroyed as University of Buea Students Strike

Dr. Nalova Lyonga-Vice Chancellor

Six persons have been injured following a second spate of unrest in less than four months in state-run University of Buea in southwest Cameroon.

The injured are campus security guards and at least three vehicles belonging to the institution were destroyed by striking students, an official of the university who asked not to be named said.

Another official said the students mainly want charges at a Buea court against 12 student leaders dropped and for fresh first semester examinations to be set for the suspects who were rounded up during the examinations period.

The students were charged to court for holding the Vice Chancellor, Dr Nalova Lyonga, hostage for over three hours in her car on campus during a strike in February.

The students also want the institutions leadership to let the union elect its leadership before May 20 and demand that the union be accorded funding, a release on Saturday from the University of Buea Students Union (UBSU) stated.

The latest strike comes after talks ended in a deadlock on two occasions.

The vice chancellor rejected the demands of the students at a meeting on Monday.

Security forces are reported to have forced their way through barricades mounted by the students and was dispersing them with tear gas.

Contacted on phone a while ago, Dr Nalova told NewsWatch she could not comment on the issue because she was on the highway.

She was spotted at the National assembly in Yaounde late yesterday, Tuesday May 14 during the first statutory ordinary session of the senate.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi