A Bible translator has been killed in Cameroon.
Wuwih William Gemuh was kidnapped and killed by armed men as he returned home from holding a workshop to collect words for dictionaries in a number of languages. He supervised Bible translation work in the Mfumte cluster of languages, in Northwest Cameroon and leaves behind a wife and six children.
Keyeh Emmanuel, General Director of the Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy (CABTAL), said :
"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.”
Bible translators working in Northwest Cameroon are in constant danger, due to the ongoing conflict between separatist groups and the government, as well as attacks from the Islamic militant organisation, Boko Haram.
James Poole, Executive Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators, said :
“We mourn alongside our Cameroonian brothers and sisters, and are encouraging Christians and churches to be praying 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.”
In a statement, Wycliffe Bible Translators said that Bible translators are increasingly working in places where it is dangerous. This is often because these are the most inaccessible locations in the world (both geographically and spiritually), where it can sometimes be most dangerous to be a Christian, where the gospel has least penetrated, and where God’s word has yet to be translated into the languages.