More controversy on the Eseka train death toll ⁰

Ten days after the derailment of Camrail train 152 at Eseka, controversy still surrounds the official figures of the death toll announced by the government. Cameroon Concord News understands the debate on the death toll linked to the tragedy has continued to fuel a hostile public opinion against the Francophone Beti-Ewondo regime.

The figures provided by the government spokesman, Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary as 79 dead and 600 wounded has been rejected by the Eseka community leaders who were the first to bring relief to victims of the crash. The traditional rulers of the town have jointly stated that their people collected more than 200 dead bodies.

Amadou Sali, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Camrail said earlier today that there were 1462 passengers on board the train. Hours later, a company executive indicated that more than 1,600 passengers were in that Intercity 152 service.

Local media reports say between 1600 and 2000 passengers were on the derailed train with several hundred of these passengers not registered.   A journalist with a sister publication, Cameroon Intelligence Report was quoted as saying that many bodies were buried in the night by security forces.  The nation is now waiting for the findings of the Prime Minister Philemon Yang Commission.

By Sonne Peter