Cameroon: Eight Security, Defence Elements Await Punishment For Torturing Man To Near Death

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence has ordered disciplinary, administrative and judicial investigations on some elements of security and defence forces caught in a video that went recently went viral on social media.

The tortured man to near death is identified by the ministry of defence in a release issued by the Head of the Communication Division Monday 15 February 2021 as Jean Fai Fungong. He was tortured by the elements who suspected him to a brother to a separatist fighter.

“…on Saturday 13 February 2021, an amateur video appeared on the web, presenting a man being interrogated, then assaulted and severely beaten by some elements of the defence and security forces. 

The scene took place in the afternoon of Thursday 11 February 2021, in the locality of Ndu…,” partly read the release issued by Navy Captain Atonfack Guemo Cyrille Serge.

The release indicated that the primary investigations identified the victim, Jean Fai Fungong, to be a suspected criminal relay and local terrorist as well as the identification of the unicom officers who committed the “despicable act”.

“…they include, in the meantime, two Gendarmes, two soldiers, and four police officers,” Atonfack revealed, adding that the perpetrators “were immediately taken into custody at the Ndu Territorial Gendarmerie Brigade” on instructions from the Minister Delegate at the presidency in Charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo.

“The disciplinary, administrative and judicial investigations prescribed by the High Command and opened by the local administrative authorities and the Defence and security forces, will help in determining the magnitude of these intolerable acts, which are in contradiction with the respect of the rules of engagement on the one hand, and on the other hand, the protection of human rights, which constitute cardinal principles to which the elements of the defence and security forces are firmly bound,” the release read.

The MINDEF instructions follows that earlier ordered by the Divisional Officer, of Ndu Subdivision, Adamu Shuaibu against the security and defence elements. 

The said viral video which was recorded the officers lasted some 9 minutes 35 seconds, showing security forces pouring water on hi and torturing him all ovber the body with a machete.