Achomba Hans Bamenda-based Journalist Abducted Nov. 5 by State Agents Remains Unaccounted For

By Wilson Musa

Achomba Hans, a journalist and documentary filmmaker based in Bamenda has been reported missing by his family. Achomba’s disappearance took place on November 5 when security forces raided his home in Bamenda and took seized his passport and phone.
According to Ngia Nji who is familiar with the matter “They threatened him for three hours, telling him they were watching his Facebook posts, his humanitarian work, and that he “will definitely go back to prison” Nji wrote in a social media post which CNA has seen.

Nji says that Achomba was then bundled into a car driven by the security agents and was taken to Legion at Up Station, Bamenda. His phones and social media handles are all inaccessible as of press time.
This is the second time Achomba is being abducted by state security agents for his work. He left a lucrative career in Europe to come and work in Cameroon as a journalist, documentary filmmaker and a humanitarian – running an NGO which helps less privileged children.
Achomba’s wife was too heartbroken when CNA contacted her Monday afternoon for comment. But she says their little children are inconsolable, crying all the time and asking where their father is and when he is coming back.
Sources familiar with the matter believe that Achomba Hans was abducted by state forces for his critical reporting and commentary of the Biya regime in the build-up to the October 12 election and the post-election climate.

Second abduction since 2017

He was first abducted in 2017 while filming a documentary about the Anglophone Crisis. He spent months in detention at the time before later being released without any explanation. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned his arbitrary arrest at the time calling it politically motivated and unjust.