Mboh Jeres Akua, a Master’s student of the Department of Public Administration of the University of Buea, was released July 7, close to four months after he was arbitrary arrested and detained over alleged secessionist activities.
Jeres had been detained since March 15, when he was arrested alongside his friend and roommate, Ngule Linus Fonteh, from their hostel room in Buea.
They were arrested by elements of Securite` Militaire (Military Security), who accused them of cooperating with Ambazonia separatist fighters to plant explosives in Buea. Their lawyers and family members had, however, dismissed the accusations as false, but this did not stop them from detaining Jeres and confiscating Linus’ corpse for close to four months.
Ngule Linus Fonteh, who was a third-year student of International Relations in UB, died few hours after they were arrested. After several months of confiscating his corpse amid suspicions that he was tortured to death, the military released his body for autopsy Thursday, July 6.
It is alleged that the order for Mboh’s release came from the Minister Delegate at the Presidency In charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Asomo.
Meanwhile, Linus’ corpse was released following a Military Court ruling that came after lawyers had tabled several complaints to the Ministry of Defence asking for an autopsy to be conducted to determine how he died.
One of the lawyers who had been advocating for his release, Barrister Tamfu Richard, said SEMIL and her accomplices plotted and accused the students of secessionist activities. He said there was no evidence to justify the claim.
The Defence Minister’s order for the release of Jeres brought much relief to him, family, and lawyers who had been advocating for his release.
By Njie Ryan
