The Union of Cameroon Journalists has announced that the group will carry out an independent investigation on the death toll of the Eseka train disaster that occurred on October the 21^st 2016. The decision was made following a controversy on the figures released by the Cameroon government spokesman and Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary.

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands that the government and Cameroon Railway Company have made public conflicting versions of the death tally creating unnecessary controversy in public opinion. The Union of Journalists of Cameroon launched on Thursday an operation code named “Eseka 1″ which aims to mobilize journalists to conduct an independent investigation. The mission will seek all factual matters necessary for a frank, candid and public understanding of the events of the 21^st of October 2016.

The government announced several conflicting figures on the number of victims and placed the blame on the back of Camrail, while the company disclosed several inconsistent figures on the number of passengers who died in the crash.

By Rita Akana