Arrest of Ayuk Tabe & CO’s lawyer: Intimidation or winning tactic?

The Communication and Media Head of jailed Ambazonia leaders, Amungwa Tanyi Nicodemus is reportedly being held at the State Secretariat for Defence, SED in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon.

Arrested last night, sources say the lawyer would appear before the military court today in Yaounde.

His ‘housing’ at the much-dreaded SED — reputed for horrible detention conditions and torture, raises fears over his wellbeing. Colleagues have as well expressed worries over the reasons for his arrest. The Yaounde government is yet to issue a public statement on the matter.

This is not Barrister Amungwa’s first encounter with Cameroon’s defence and security forces.

In July 2019, he was reportedly rough handled by two Gendarmes in Yaounde and later spent several days in the hospital recuperating.

Thousands of men are currently being detained across the country due to the prolonged armed conflict in the North West and South West regions.

Many have questioned the arrest, describing it as government’s reticence to seek a lasting solution to the Anglophone crisis.

This comes after a number of failed dialogue attempts bled on both government and separatists’ unwillingness to compromise and find common ground for peace talks.

Others see the arrest as not only an intimidation tactic but as part of the state’s silent crackdown on persons believed to be sympathizers with the Ambazonian cause.

Mimi Mefo Info