'Porn video shoot' caused stampede in High school in Yde

Officials and eyewitnesses gave different accounts of possible deaths after a disciplinary standoff between students and teachers ended in a violent riot at a high school in Yaounde on Tuesday March 3.

Dozens were reportedly, trampled upon and injured when around 3,000 students protesting a lockdown to witness an alleged shooting of a pornographic video on campus tried to force their way through a narrow gate, officials and students said.

Students who witnessed the incident claimed they saw at least seven corpses of their mates but the minister of secondary education Louis Bapes Bapes said in a statement that, no one had died however, at least 75 students were injured, the minister said.

A local hospital where injured students were being treated refused to comment on the matter.

Riot police and local administrative officials raced to the scene at the Government High School Nkoabang, located in a neighbourhood on the eastern part of the outskirts of the city.

A police official said they made no arrests but said they were investigating the matter.

Principal Marie Bernadette Belinga Beti ordered the closure of the school’s gates early Tuesday and began a systematic control of enrolment regularity to fish out “recalcitrant student,” officials and students said.

A “return to order” in which students were asked to present “disciplinary and medical booklets” to enter the campus was commanded after a pornographic video circulated on campus and reached school officials.

At least 3,000 agitated students were trapped outside the campus just before lectures, reports said.

“The gate was suddenly opened to let in a car and everyone tried to rush in at the same time,” said an eyewitness. “Some students fell and were trampled on. At least seven of them died.”

Student began throwing stones when teachers and discipline staff tried to force them out of the gate again, said another witness.

“We have rescued all your mates, no one is dead thanks to the response of security forces,” “We have been in touch with every hospital. Some were slightly injured and doctors say they are recovering.” the SDO of Mefou Afamba told students.