400 Cameroonians detained in E. Guinea

  1. Posted on Tuesday 14 April 2009 - 11:22
    Mforgham
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    Solomon Tembang Mforgham, AfricaNews reporter in Limbe, Cameroon
    Close to 400 Cameroonians were reportedly under detention at the Equatorial Guinea central prison after they were accused of hatching a plot to attack the presidency with purported rebels from Mali and Cameroon who got to Equatorial Guinea by boat.
    Cameroon 19 :Greysiam
    According to one of the freed detainees, Joshua Baiyee, who recently returned to Limbe, problems began on 17 February 2009 when a boat loaded with passengers from Mali and Cameroon anchored at the port which is close to the Equatorial Guinea presidency.

    Military forces on land began firing gunshots, thinking they were rebels. A good number of them are said to have died as a result. The next day, there was a raid of all inhabitants living in the area.


    Baiyee said military men who stormed the area accused them of conniving with the purported rebels to attack the presidency. The military men threatened to bury them alive or set them on fire.

    According to him, they were still contemplating the fastest way to execute them, when an Equato-Guinean presidential guard recognised them as genuine businessmen. He said the multitude was then conveyed to a police cell where they were tied and beaten mercilessly.

    An undisclosed number of persons died due to the horrendous treatment meted on them in the cell. He said girls were reported to have been raped and assaulted.

    After spending one month in the cell the Cameroon embassy in Equatorial Guinea was contacted but much to their surprise only French-speaking Cameroonians were released on grounds that the other English-speaking detainees were Nigerians.

    In confusion the English-speaking detainees, Nigerians and Cameroonians inclusive got in contact with the Nigerian embassy in Malabo. They all claimed they were Nigerians living in Cameroon.

    Joshua Baiyee said he claimed to the Equato-Guinean authorities that he originated from Ikom village, Cross River State. He said the Nigerian government negotiated for the release of its citizens.

    That is how, according to Baiyee, him and others were released. He equally revealed that the Equatorial Guinean government offered to finance their trip to Cameroon.

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