Some boys arrested in Ekona released, others still detained
By Shanta Sih
Some of the boys arrested on February 12 in Ekona and taken to the Buea Gendarmerie have been released but others remain detained.
Mothers of the arrested boys say their children were out in the field playing football when they were arrested. Following a talk with the Divisional Officer and the Buea Mayor, a few of the boys were released but their parents say they can only rejoice when all the boys are set free.
” We are no doubt happy that our sons have been set free but we cannot have total peace of mind knowing we all came here from Ekona and all of us are not happy. Some of our sons are still being held captive and we will not rest until they are all set free,” Anna Chinda, a mother to one of the detained boys says.
” I personally hold this case dear and I have asked so many questions why a detained inmate’s family is being denied access to their relative. I know the law and I see that it is totally wrong. Inmates who have not been tried yet are still free and the family is free to visit. Who can live without food? Why stop the mothers from feeding their children? Why were the boys arrested in the first place? And I am asking what charges are being put on them and proof. Just like some have been released, I will try my best to see into it that the rest are set free too. We should give justice no matter the situation. These boys were playing football,” Barister Edward Lyonga explains.
” I am crying because I have just one child and it’s a son. He is amongst the young men arrested and my child has not eaten since Sunday. I cannot have rest and today others have been set free but my son is still in detention. The frustration is heavy and I am pleading that my son along with others still held captive be set free. The crisis in Ekona for some time now has reduced and just when we saw peace coming back, this happens,” another mother laments.
Barrister Edward Lyonga has promised to help the mothers of the young men still held captive set their sons free.
