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The youth, who were arrested some two weeks ago during military patrols in some villages around Buea, were released from the 21st Infantry Battalion near the Buea Regional Hospital about 1pm today.
According to Fidelis Oja Tamba, one of the released youth from Mamu village, dozens of them were arrested without charge and have been behind bars for 11 days.
“They have done the right thing by releasing us. They told us to notify them if the amba boys are around. We are the government and the government is us. We are ready to work with the government if our security from separatist fighters is guaranteed,” Tamba told MMI.
He said he was whisked off despite having presented his national ID card and the military men refused answering any questions as to why they taken.
At the Army barracks, they were told they were being investigated in connection with separatist activities in the area.
According to Mami Agnes from Mautu village, a few miles from Buea, the military forced her son out of the house on September 13.
She said the crisis had forced them out of the village to Bomaka neighborhood in Buea where they currently reside.
Before her son was arrested, he had gone to the village to collect some foodstuffs when the military batched in at about 5am and took him away from bed.
20 days later, she says her son has been released without her paying any bail fee.
“I feel happy, I thank God because my son is clean; he is not involved in rough acts. We the mothers have been crying a lot but today we are glad our children have been released, ” she said.
Although the town of Buea has been largely peaceful, it’s surrounding villages have not however been calm given frequent battles between the military and separatist fighters.
This has always ended up at the detriment of the population who are either killed in crossfire’s or arrested without charge or sometimes kidnapped by the amba boys on grounds of betraying their movement.
Mimi Mefo Info
