Outcry over mass arrest of men in Bamenda

Residents of Bamenda, chief town of Cameroon’s North West region have been decrying what they say are arbitrary arrests by the forces of law and order.

The arrest they say, targets hundreds of young men from different parts of the town “regardless of whether they had any identification documents or not”.

Some of the young people, MMI gathers were only released early this morning. “I was there and guns will make you unable to ask why you are seated on the dust. We paid for our liberty. I approached 3 police officers they did not listen, so what saved me and others was that, I spoke to the 4th in French. He could tried to smuggle us. We gave him 10k. ($17,00)” one of them told MMI on basis of anonymity adding, it however did not secure their release. “We finally gave 30.000FCFA to the commissioner before we were allowed to go”.

“All my neighbors slept in police cell last night… Their ID cards were taken and registered. It is this morning that they gave them all their ID cards and set them free” another source said.

A similar move was taken weeks back in Muea, South West region still by the forces of law and order.

Picture: Archive

Mimi Mefo Info