The seven-year-old girl was playing on the 200-kg sculpture of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ.

Pamcilia Efende Njie Mbonde, the seven-year-old daughter of Njie Mbonde John, an ophthalmic nurse with the Mundemba District Hospital, in Ndian Division of the South West Region, was killed on June 24, 2015 after a 200-kg cement statue of Mary the mother of Christ collapsed and hit her head. According to eye witnesses, Pamcilia had been playing on the statue in one of the halls in the Catholic Church premises in the divisional headquarters, Mundemba.

While searching for new accommodation, the family of the deceased moved to the Catholic compound to seek temporary lodging just three days before the unfortunate incident occurred. According to information gathered, the little girl made her way into a gallery where the figurines of Mary, Joseph and some angels were kept; and like most children are wont to do, started playing with the statue of Mary, climbing and going down it.

Thereafter, she fell from the heavy sculpture which also collapsed on her head, killing her instantly. The unfortunate incident attracted a huge crowd of mourners and sympathizers, including the Senior Divisional Officer for Ndian, Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin and the Divisional Officer for Mundemba, who all expressed their sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family. The corpse was later conveyed to Limbe in Fako Division of the South West Region on the same day for burial.