Extra-judicial killings in Far North: Tchiroma denies arrest of suspected soldiers

By DOH JAMES SONKEY
Government Spokesperson, Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary of Communication has vehemently refuted allegations on the arrest of four soldiers accused of shooting to death women and their children in a video that went viral on the social media. Speaking at a press briefing last July 21, 2018, in his Cabinet at the Ministry of Communication in Yaoundé, Minister Issa Tchiroma said such rumours propagated by some international media outlets and the social media is void of any evidence.
While reiterating that the arguments used in the video to incriminate Cameroon Army are “ungrounded and full of hasty accusations,” Minister Tchiroma said the gravity and intolerability of facts contained therein touched the Head of State who ordered for investigation by Minister Delegate in charge of Defense to shed more light so that if proven, authors will be arrested, tried and severely punished.

Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary talking at the press conference as MINCOM SG looks on
Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary talking at the press conference as MINCOM SG looks on

He called on anyone with information that may contribute to the manifestation of truth and to identify the perpetrators to contact a set up commission of inquiry on 222 23 43 84.
The Government Spokesperson used the occasion to underline that “Cameroon Army is at war against terrorists and not against women and children.”
He accused Amnesty International of demonstrating bad faith by linking the video to Cameroon given that the video scenes show same images accusing the military of a West African country which has also debunked the accusations.
Minister Issa Tchiroma concluded that “if it was true, then, I could have been the first to summon the media here to give you reliable information. As of today, no Cameroonian, no soldier has been arrested as claimed.”

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