Ambazonia separatist leaders, including Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, who were arrested in Nigeria and extradited to Cameroon have already spent seven years behind bars.
The 10 Ambazonia leaders were arrested on January 5, 2018, at Nera Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria.
In collaboration with Cameroonian authorities, the Nigerian police arrested Julius Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and nine others who are known today known as the Nera 10.
Following their arrest, it took about two weeks for the Cameroon Government to acknowledge their detention in Yaounde.
Serving Life Sentences
Ayuk Tabe, who declared the independence of Ambazonia (the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon) on October 1, 2017, was later tried alongside his colleagues at a Yaounde military court.
The court charged them with secession and terrorism-related offenses.
At that time, the Anglophone Crisis had just escalated into an armed conflict in 2017.
Following several court appearances, the military court finally sentenced them to life in prison in the absence of their lawyers.
Aside from just life imprisonment, the court fined them billions of franc CFA.
Hope in the Dungeon
Despite spending seven years in prison, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe has not shifted his position.
Before his arrest, he had always preached secession through a non-violent approach.
Till today, he still calls on Anglophone Cameroonians, whom he identifies as Ambazonians, to be peaceful in their struggle for self-determination.
Several videos have depicted him preaching the word of God to fellow prisoners as well.
In most of his messages, he still exhibits leadership traits, reaching out to those caught in the armed conflict.
Leadership in Disarray
Since the arrest and detention of the 10 separatist leaders, the struggle for independence has seen many challenges.
After his arrest, Sisiku transferred the power of his office as leader of the Ambazonia governing council to Dapney Yerima.
However, Yerima is unpopular.
His leadership has been challenged by war and power mongers like Ayaba Cho Lucas, Chris Anu, and Samuel Sako.
They have created independent factions that have been warring against one another.
They have been accused of using the independence struggle to settle scores and raise private money.
Separatist fighters from the various camps have frequently attacked and killed one another, in a quest for control.
They have also kidnapped civilians for ransom, and killed several others who do not buy their ideas.
Normalcy Returning Amid Hardship
Since the start of the crisis in 2016, thousands have died and enormous property has been destroyed.
The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands internally and externally.
The economy in the North West and South West regions has shrunk.
However, the armed conflict is beginning to reduce.
The rampant killing of civilians is rare now, but kidnapping for ransom persists.
Also, some rural communities, especially in the North West Region, remain in the control of separatist fighters.
While prominent separatist fighters have been killed, hundreds of others have dropped arms and joined the Centers for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration.
