Douala: youths arrested for demanding whereabouts of Biya as coronavirus rages on

Some youths have been jailed at the Douala New Bell prison for demanding the whereabouts of President Paul Biya during a demonstration.

In their Monday protest in Bonakouamouang, Douala, they denounced the silence of the head of state over the fight against the coronavirus.

“We arrested three people, including the man who carried the sign. They were heard and placed under arrest warrant at Douala the central prison, ” media reports quote a police source.

The New Bell prison, one of Cameron’s most dreaded detention facilities holds over 5000 inmates though initially built to host just 800

Of the three detainees it was revealed, is a gas station attendant from a nearby gas station who was caught filming the incident.

A source close to the arrested gas station worker says they are accused of “endangering state security.”

This is not the first time security forces have cracked down on persons carrying out peaceful protests in the country. A similar move in 2016 led to the escalation of the Anglophone crisis into the ongoing armed conflict that has taken thousands of lives.

With Cameroon’s coronavirus cases at almost a thousand, president Biya who has ruled for almost four decades today is no where to be found amidst rumours of his demise.

MMI