Plight of journalists covering Anglophone crisis: MPs Question MINDEF Boss On Wazizi’s Dead, Arrest Of Njoka Kingsley

The plight of journalists covering the ongoing armed conflict in the North West and South West regions related to notably intimidation, threats, attack, arbitrary arrest and detention in the hands of security officers has been discussed at a plenary dedicated to oral questions at the National Assembly. 

At the session Thursday 1 April 2021, Hon Injo Foo Ngang Prudencia took to the rostrum, demanding answers from the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence on measures taken to address the concerns of media professionals covering the Anglophone crisis as well as explanations to circumstances surrounding the dead of Buea-based journalist, Samuel Wazizi and the arrest of Douala-based journalist, Njoka Kingsley who is still to appear before the court. 

In response, the MINDEF, Beti Assomo Joseph emphatically stated that journalists deployed for timely coverage of the crisis and permanently established in the crisis-hit regions have never been the target of any action by the armed forces. 

“On the contrary, they benefit from the security supervision of the defense and security forces personnel and protective equipment like bulletproofs and heavy helmets when on mission to the two regions,” Beti clarified. 

He added that the cases of Samuel Wazizi and Kingsley Njoka are specific situations of journalists who have used their profession for aims that pose a threat to the country. Beti told the MPs that Wazizi was arrested August 3, 2019 in Ekona and accused for cooperating with terrorists and complicity in acts of terrorism and was transferred to Yaounde for investigations where he unfortunately died at the 1st military region hospital as a result of severe sepsis as attested by the death certificate delivered by the hospital. 

“Following his death which caused serious agitation within the media, an investigation was opened on the high instructions of the Head of State in order to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. Investigations are still awaited and it will therefore be inappropriate to give a hasty or harmful response before the said findings are made public,” he stated. 

The MINDEF boss went further and revealed that Kingsley Njoka was arrested in Douala 15 March 2020 and charged on 11 June 2020 before the examining magistrate of the Yaounde military tribunal for acts of secession and complicity with an armed gang as provided for by article 4, 97, 111 and 115 of the penal code. 

“Judicial investigations on this case is ongoing. In view of the gravity of the charges levied against him, his continuous detention remains necessary for establishing the truth,” he revealed. 

By Doh Bertrand Nua