Freed Detainees from Bamenda Central Prison Love in Public

Freed Detainees from Bamenda Central Prison Love in Public

In a press release signed on Thursday Dec. 13 2018 by Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, following instructions from the Head of State, Paul Biya, proceedings pending before Military Tribunals within the nation against 289 detainees that were arrested for misdemeanors in connection with the crisis in the North West and South West regions of the country were to be immediately discontinued. The release further stated that, coming on the heels of the establishment of the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Committee, the Head of State's decision is guided by his determination to relentlessly pursue efforts of ensuring a peaceful solution  to the crisis affecting these two regions of the country.

Released Inmate Captured in Love Scene with Missed Wife

According to Barrister Fru Joseph, defendant of some of the released detainees, they, lawyers had been calling for this discontinuance long ago. However they aren't complaining about when it came but rather glad because it's good news. He explained that "The motion to discontinue is a legal technical term that says prosecution in this case as represented by the legal department, representing both the Ministers of Defence and Justice decided that they were going to put a halt to the cases and they did." As to what he will be doing to reintegrate himself into society, one of the detainees said he will become a peace crusader with mission to educate the public about the role of authorities, government and youths in society. Out of the 49 that were to be released from the Bamenda Central Prison as per the presidential decision, Colonel Kengne, presiding magistrate at the Bamenda Military Tribunal disclosed that 10 concerned inmates were absent from the court session because some had previously been released on bail while others where hospitalised. However, all their case files have been officially closed.  

Bamenda Military Tribunal Implementing the Head of State's Decision

According to Wikipedia, a misdemeanor is any "lesser" criminal act in some common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences. Many misdemeanors are punished with monetary fines. Yet many of the concerned inmates had been charged with secession, insurrection, terrorism, possession of arms, justification of crime among others. Many pundits have been asking if the government wasn't using an axe to kill a mosquito especially as some of the released narrated that they were just picked up for no crime committed yet their case files had build up accusations which were forced on them.

Former Detainees Waiting for Final Verdict

Fonjah Hanson Muki, publisher of The Cameroon Report, a news tabloid, was arrested on July 28 2017, incarcerated for over a month before later being released on bail after which his case was forwarded to the military tribunal for hearing. He was charged for public encouragement of terrorism acts and spreading of false information. He had been appearing in court for over a year now. With his case file now officially closed upon high instructions from the Head of State, he said "I'm very happy because first I'm free, secondly I I'm free to resume publication of my paper." He however testified that it's an experience that's taught him bitter lessons to henceforth properly investigate a story before publishing. As message to those still incarcerated  after being caught during the ongoing crisis, he said, "The whole of this drama will come to an end. I trust the military court because I've followed many cases in which charges against various detainees have been dropped." He added that the problem is for one's case to be heard. It gives hope as compared to one that's not bring heard. "I wish that they should just be patient till the day that their own sun will shine." he ended.

Akumbom Elvis McCarthy, Freed Journalist

Akumbom Elvis McCarthy is another famous Bamenda based journalist that was picked up and locked behind bars. When Mimi Mefo of the  English Desk of Equinoxe TV, Douala was incarcerated at New Bell prison on November 8 2018, journalist nationwide and internationally stood up in one voice and pressurised the government to unconditionally release her. This was done as all charges against her were dropped and case dismissed, again, upon high instructions from the Head of State. Some journalism associations like CAMASEJ North West chapter were already making plans to launch a similar campaign for the release of Akumbom Elvis, fortunately, he was among the 49 released. Talking to media colleagues after regaining his liberty, he said "I'm overwhelmed for this opportunity today to regain my freedom after nine months  of detention." He went ahead to thank all journalists, family and friends that played a vital role by "fighting" for his release. "I think that I deserve to be released because I did nothing wrong. I was doing my job." he added. He ended by pleading with the penitentiary authorities and judicial department to continue releasing many of the innocent inmates still behind bars, a move which he thinks can in one way or another help to restore peace in the two English speaking regions.

The Power of Love. Shella Comes to Receive Kennedy

Before being caught and locked up, some of the detainees had wives and children at home. A young girl whose only name we got as Shella had been deprived of her husband, Atako Kennedy Ndeh for months. Kennedy, a driver plying the Bamenda-Mbengwi highway was caught and locked up for complicity to crime. Separatist fighters seized his car and used for a mission. Thus security radar was on him till he was caught. When the husband stepped out of the military court, Up Station, Bamenda after being declared free, the waiting arms of his wife, Shella were wide open for a warm hug. They would've done bedroom things in public if not of that cameras were on them to capture their joy. Expressing her emotions, Shella told the press, "I feel so happy because my husband is out. When we get home, we'll see what to do."

Colonel Kengne, Examining Magistrate at Military Tribunal, Bamenda

When the already freed citizens stepped back into the prison van to go and collect their belonging from their cells, choruses went wild. "He's a miracle working God, the alpha and omega" was their unrecorded song. From prison, the former detainees will later be transported to the governor's office for a handshake and subsequent dispatch to go back home. North West governor, Adolph Lele Lafrique addressing the very attentive former detainees told them that they've benefitted from the Head of State's largesse as he promised during his inaugural speech after his last reelection to do all within reach to end the crisis rocking the region. "I'll like therefore to ask you all to go back to your various families and use all means at your level to convince your other mates to lay down their guns and come come back to normal civil life." the governor told them. He assured that upon laying down arms, the repented fighters will be well taken care of by the recently setup disarmament committee.

A. Lele Lafrique, N.W Regional Governor

From the governor's address, it was like he was speaking to released separatist fighters. This because he insisted that these released detainees will be taken to remote areas to convince the others that are still doubting the goodwill of the Head of State, father of the nation that the state is ready to welcome them full heartedly and to accompany them in normal civil life. He ended up offering them the sum of 200.000F to share as subsidy for their transportation back home. It should b recalled no longer have homes as they've been burnt down, their villages deserted and the whereabout of their family members unknown.

All Freed At Last