Health worker detained for “associating” with separatist fighters

The family of Fonkwah Roland, a medical doctor at the Aduck Health Center in Fundong, North West region is pleading for his release from the Fundong Gendarmerie Brigade.

Roland, a family member tells MMI, was picked up last Thursday by security forces as he returned from a meeting in the regional capital, Bamenda where they strategized on ways to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

“The gendarmes suspected him of being an Amba fighter because they saw some photos in his phone he had taken with Amba fighters,” the relative says.

The photos, he explains however, were taken to enable the doctor have free passage whenever he got to any checkpoint manned by the separatist fighters, because he is a government worker.

“When he was coming back he bought some medicine for the Health Centre but the gendarmes said he wanted to go and treat Amba fighters,” he adds.

Fonkwa Roland’s parents, the family member says, “were there (at the brigade) two days ago and they told them that if they want to see him they should go to Yaounde.”

“As we speak now, his wife, children, family members, patients and colleagues have not set their eyes on him… They don’t even allow a family member to see him right now. We don’t even know what he’s eating,” he adds.

The health worker’s family and friends have since launched an appeal pleading that he be released.

MMI