BOKO HARAM VICTIMS SAFE IN NEW HOMES IN CAMEROON
A year after Boko Haram terrorised a village in Northern Cameroon and killed two Bible Society literacy teachers, their families are in new homes in a safer village thanks to assistance from Bible Society Australia (BSA).
The Islamic terrorist group killed Jonas*, 42, last August and his friend Joseph*, 43, in September, and took all each family’s possessions, leaving both wives and a combined 16 children with nothing.
BSA was able to step in straight away and provide funding for both families for food, clothing and other essentials. It soon became apparent, though, that the wives were very reluctant to accept replacements of their household goods as that would make them a target for further attacks by Boko Haram. They weren’t safe and were at high risk, especially the school-aged children who moved between villages to attend school.
Bible Society Cameroon approached BSA with a request to fund moving both families away from danger to a much safer village and even help to pay for new houses for them.
Soon after this, one of the women gave birth to another child, a little boy she named Innocent, who sadly would never meet his father.
BSA readily agreed to this plan, and the Cameroon team got busy, moving the families into homes in their new village and buying all new furniture and household goods as well as clothing and new school uniforms for the children.
They then arranged the purchase of land plots and the building of two homes side-by-side.
Recently, the families were able to move into their new homes, filled with everything they need and in a place where they are safe and secure.
Bible Society Cameroon has committed to support these families for at least five years, providing food and clothing and paying for the education of all of the children. BSA has pledged to contribute to this along with a couple of other generous Bible Societies that were also moved by this story.
