I have been arrested four times for wearing dreadlocks – Buea resident

Several concerns have been raised over the behavior of security officers towards citizens in Buea, South West region of Cameroon.

Buea is a city in one of the restive Anglophone regions.

Security officials are accused of harassing citizens – and the Anglophone crisis which has prevailed four four years, seems to have worsened matters, due to the ‘extra powers’ men in uniform wield.

A victim of their heavy handedness writes to Mimi Mefo Info:

“We are tired of the way Gendarmes and policemen keep harassing us the youths in Molyko, Buea”.

“As I write to you now, me and my friend just paid 50,000frs for no just reason. It was simply because we have dreadlocks. Is it a crime for a young man to dress well? Is it now a crime to own an iPhone?” he questions.

He continues that: “we are tired of all this day and night. I have been arrested by the Gendarmes four times … I think the Government needs to do something about this”.

Since the start of the Anglophone crisis in 2016, security forces have been accused of routinely targeting civilians and rights abuses.

Government officials claim their presence in the conflict-hit areas is to protect the citizens and properties.

Photo Credit: AFP

Mimi Mefo Info