Nigerians storm consolate in Yaounde demanding release of Union leaders

By Tata Mbunwe

Nigerians resident in Yaounde stormed the Nigerian Consolate in Bastos, on Thursday morning demanding the release of their Union leader arrested recently.

The Nigerians say their country is passing through the Cameroon Government to arrest and jail Nigerian citizens – a practice they demand an end to, with immediate effect.

The Nigerian Union President has been locked up at the State Secretariat of Defence in Yaounde, alongside Chairpersons representing some States in Nigeria, Mimi Mefo Info has learned.

The protesters are saying this should not have happened when they have an Embassy in Cameroon to negotiate and settle their disputes.

Reports say they were arrested based on terrorism accusations levied on them by one Mr Njoku, another Nigerian, and the protesting Nigerians are urging Cameroonian authorities to “stop” him.

“We don’t want any Nigerian in this country to terrorise our people anymore; using the authorities against our people. The Cameroon Government knows that we Nigerians, especially those living in Yaounde, are one of the most peaceful people in this country,” revealed one of the Nigerian protesters.

They raised placards bearing messages like “Stop S. Njoku”, “Enough is enough” and “We are for justice”.

Nigerian protesters in Yaounde, Cameroon

According to another protester who spoke to the press, “one of us, a Nigerian, got arrested some of the Chairpersons of the States in Nigeria that we are having here. They even went to the extent of arresting the President of all the Nigerians here. I don’t understand how such a thing happened when we have an Embassy here.”

Authorities at the Embassy had not spoken to the protesters at the time of this report.

Concerning the terrorism accusations on their leaders, the protesters say they have several unions which guide them from engaging in violence or any criminal acts in Cameroon.

Mimi Mefo Info