Orders to ban the gathering we are told came from the Divisional Officer after due consultation with the Police Commissioner of the area. According to Evans Tebo, an official of Human Rights Cameroon, the Commissioner claimed that the Press conference cannot hold because the country is in delicate situation with happenings in Bamenda and that the Head of State will also address the nation this Saturday during his traditional end of year address to the nation.
He said, “the D.O called the Commissioner and asked her to investigate what we are all about, so the D.O did not know anything,it is when the Commissioner gave her reports that the D.O called me to hand back my document.”
However,Evans Tebo said cases of human rights violation were appalling in the twin strike action that hit the city of Bamenda. He disclosed that the images are horrible, terrifying and only goes a long way to show how Police used force to extend of shooting live bullets on the striking population.
“We were the ones who visited prisoners, each and every one of them shared with us what happened how they were arrested and bad treatment they had, we went to the State Council in Bamenda where they were charged and released that same day. Three of them were left because they did not have identification documents, 21 out of the 25 released and 1 was remanded because he was caught with Marijuana.” Evans told reporters.