A group of women from Maumu, a village on the outskirts of Buea, staged a peaceful protest outside the South West Gendarmerie Headquarters, Legion in Buea, on Thursday, October 24, 2024. Determined and resolute, the women sat on the bare road, demanding justice for their children, whom they allege gendarmes arbitrarily arrested late last week.
Women claimed that a series of arrests in Maumu triggered the protest, asserting that those arrests were unjust and lacked due process. The demonstrators claim that authorities took their children into custody without clear charges or explanations, leaving families distressed and uncertain about the detainees’ whereabouts or legal status.
Gathering in front of the Gendarmerie headquarters, the women staged a non-violent demonstration, calling for the immediate release of their children and an end to what they described as arbitrary detentions. By sitting directly on the road in such a prominent location, the protesters underscored the urgency of their demands and their determination to achieve justice.
Authorities Respond to Protest
In an effort to address the rising tensions, Buea’s Divisional Officer (DO), Abba Abdouraman, arrived at the scene to speak with the protesters. The women received his assurance that the issue would undergo thorough investigation, and he encouraged them to stay calm. He urged them to trust the authorities to conduct a proper investigation into the arrests, promising that they would respect the rights of their children throughout the process.
While the women cautiously welcomed the DO’s assurances, they emphasised the need for swift and transparent action. Their protest sheds light on broader concerns regarding law enforcement practices in the region, particularly in rural areas like Maumu, where communities feel increasingly vulnerable to security forces.
Escalating Tensions with Journalists
Meanwhile, journalists who arrived to cover the protest faced severe brutality from gendarmes. Security forces demanded that the media refrain from documenting the event. Furthermore, assailants physically assaulted reporters who captured images, seizing their equipment and deleting footage. Authorities threatened journalists with detention, forcing them to leave the scene.
This violent crackdown on the press raises concerns about the state of media freedom and transparency in the region, particularly in the face of mounting tensions between local communities and security forces.
