HRW Accuses Separatists Of Kidnappings In Anglophone Regions

Human Rights Watch has accused pro independence fighters in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon of targeted kidnap of politicians, clergy and students.

In its latest report Human Rights watch say pro independence fighters beat up and kidnapped Ni John Fru Ndi, old guard of Cameroon’s political activism, on June 28, 2019 from his home in Bamenda.

Human Rights Watch highlighted that Ni John Fru Ndi kidnapped twice in two months, has been a prominent advocate of the rights of Cameroon’s minority

The rights group also accused pro independence fighters of the abduction and subsequent release of Cornelius Fontem Esua, the archbishop of Bamenda.

Human Rights Watch says hundreds of people including students and clergymen have been kidnapped by pro independence fighters since 2017 amid growing calls for separation.

Human Rights Watch quoted Fru Ndi as saying that he was kidnapped and taken to a separatists camp, where he saw some of them smoking marijuana and abusing other hard drugs. They stripped him, hoisted the Amazonian flag and sang their anthem.

The Rights Group says ” separatists pretend to be protecting the Anglophone people, but they are just abusing them”.

Human Rights Watch attests that the grievances expressed by Anglophone groups over political marginalisation and lack of recognition of their cultural identity are real. But kidnapping and abusing civilians will do little to address these grievances.

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