Threats to Blackmail and/or Kidnap
Dear friends of KumboKids and Community,
On October 4, 2024, I received a text on my mobile phone from a non-registered contact and an unknown person. The message was written in horrible, pidgin English, which took me time to understand. The person accused me of rejoicing when they got killed. I had to figure out that it came from a member of one of the rebel groups of the Anglophone Crisis. I shared the information with the bishop and with some priests. Then, I blocked the number.
On January 10, 2025, the person started texting me again. He went from one accusation to another. My phone would always ring, but I decided not to answer. When I blocked the number, he would begin calling with a different number. Things are not censored in Cameroon. One person can have as many SIM cards as possible bearing other names. I took him first for one of the rebels, but then, I began thinking that he was just a scammer trying to say something to frighten him and give him money.
Since he kept calling me, I decided to pick up one of the calls. He knows I am a priest and in charge of a school. I do not know whether he knows the location of my school. I asked him what he wanted. He told me that he had information about me of all the evil things I was doing, my evil chats, pictures, and videos and that if I did not comply, he was going to put them on FACEBOOK for the whole world to see the kind of person I am. So, he demanded four million FCFA ($8,000.00), which I was to pay before 8:30 PM on January 15, 2025.
I gently told him in that conversation to go ahead and post whatever information he had about me on the media. Since then, I have been receiving threats and accusations of different kinds. I have not picked up his calls. The last threat was that he would come and kidnap four students randomly, and I would be responsible for whatever would happen to the children since I refused to comply. I have attached a screenshot of the messages.
Screenshots of the threats against Fr. Emmanuel
Dear friends, in the book of the Prophet Isaiah 41:10, we read, “So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you and uphold you with my righteous hand. " Is. 41:13 continues, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.” At first, I was afraid, but I have been praying, and I feel the power of God in me, compelling me to remain strong. I ask your prayers because I am determined not to give this guy any money. He will always return with one story or another to ask for more money if I give money. So please pray for me.
I take every opportunity to thank you for all you do for KumboKids and Community. Dark forces will always come our way to try to dismantle what we are building, but “gates of the nether world shall never prevail” against the Light of Christ. Remain firm in your faith and know that God will never abandon those who trust HIM. May your day begin and end with HIM so that through HIM, with HIM, and in HIM, you may reign eternally with HIM forever and ever. Amen.
-Fr. Emmanuel Fale Lon, SD