Yaounde: Journalists, Lawyers Beaten for Interviewing Trump’s Deportees
By Hans Ngala
A journalist was severely beaten by police and later collapsed as a result of the beatings CNA has learned. His only crime was attempting to interview some of the immigrants deported by Donald Trump to Cameroon under a shady deal.
“Allegedly one journalist suffered severe injuries from beating and kicking, collapsing in the detention cell. Although they were accused of unauthorized activities like taking pictures, videos or images, but the exact charges against them remain unclear” Ndape Sally, a social activist wrote.
The group of Anglophone journalists and lawyers were working with the deportees who were forcibly deported to Cameroon even though none of them is a Cameroon. They were detained and later released. CNA got the names of the lawyers and journalists as:
1-Barrister Awah Joseph Fru.
2-Randy Joe Sa’ah, a seasoned freelance journalist and former BBC reporter.
4-Nalova Akwa, a stringer with the Associated Press
5-Angel Ngwe, an AP photojournalist.
6-Arnold Ndal, an AP videographer.
They were arrested in the compound where the deportees from the US are being held in Yaounde.
While they have now been released, their phones and laptops were confiscated by police, CNA gathered. This, after lengthy interrogations.
A statement from Viban Jude who heads a union of English-speaking journalists in Cameroon said: “Our colleagues and members, Nalova Akua and Randy Joe Sa’ah, were on professional assignment today in Yaoundé to interview African deportees from the United States when an incident occurred.
The authorities had instructed that no photos or videos should be taken. However, the videographer accompanying them reportedly did not comply with this directive.
As a result, Nalova and Randy, together with the photographer and videographer, were taken to the Judicial Police, where they recorded statements and were later allowed to return home, although their phones and other equipment were retained”.
It is unclear why lawyers and journalists who are simply doing their jobs, were targeted by Yaounde. Cameroonians are wondering what Biya is hiding or what he is so afraid of which would lead his officials to resort to physically assaulting reporters and lawyers in the first place.
