A Bible translator has been killed in Cameroon. Wuwih William Gemuh supervised Bible translation work in the Mfumte cluster of languages, in Northwest Cameroon. He leaves behind a wife and six children.
Wuwih had been facilitating a workshop to collect words for dictionaries in a number of languages. As he returned home after the workshop on Friday 17 March, he was kidnapped and later killed by armed men.
Keyeh Emmanuel, General Director of the Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy (CABTAL), says:
‘We are working to bring comfort to the family and colleagues at this very difficult moment. We invite you to be in prayers for us and for Wuwih’s family.
‘Due to the ongoing conflict in that region between separatist groups and the government, as well as attacks from the Islamic organisation, Boko Haram, in the Far North Region, Bible translators in Cameroon are in persistent danger.’
James Poole, Executive Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators, says:
‘We mourn alongside our Cameroonian brothers and sisters, and are encouraging Christians and churches to pray for his wife and children.
‘The shock and suddenness of Wuwih’s murder further highlights the urgency of the work of Bible translation, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to know Jesus through the Bible. We need to get the Scriptures translated for all those people of Northwest Cameroon, but also for the many other people who do not yet have the Bible in their own language.’
