By Che Gaston
Official figures have indicated that more persons involved in homosexuality (gays and lesbians) are being prosecuted in courts across the Republic of Cameroon. According to Barrister Alice Nyenty, a rights defender, more than 25 homosexuals have been jailed in the country between February 2019 and March, 2023.
Media reports suggest that security operatives in the South West Region of Cameroon have opened a man hunt to track down one Ndibong Christina Ebai, a native of Manyu and student resident in the city of Limbe.
The 27-year-old is accused of organizing illegal meetings and activities during which she and her friends convince young girls from 18 years to indulge in same sex relationship and lesbianism both in and out of school milieus.
Sources say Christina Ebai was arrested on November 25, 2022 and placed under detention at the Limbe central police station for several days before she was released on bail following interventions by human rights lawyers and guy rights defenders.
The lawyers had claimed the detention conditions were poor and Ndibong Christina was already facing health challenges. One of the lawyers hinted this reporter that a huge sum of money was also deposited to secure her release from police custody while the matter would be sent to court.
The man hunt has been launched following repeated absences recorded in court by Ndibong Christina Ebai since February 2023. Security sources say her whereabouts is unknown given that both bailiffs and law enforcement officers have not been able to reach her or set eyes on her for several months running.
The case of Ndibong Christina is one amongst several other Lesbians and homosexuals have been on the run in Cameroon. Just recently, family members of one Ebue Eric, a homosexual in Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala were intimidated, molested and even detained, forcing them to give information about his whereabouts, while 3 of his Co. actors have been sentenced by the Bonanjo Court of First Instance in Douala.
It should be noted that same sex relationship is illegal and criminalized in Cameroon under the country’s anti-guy law and culprits can be punished with jail terms of up to five (5) years and a fine of up to CFA Two Million Francs according to section 347-1 of law Number 2016/007 pf July 2016 of the penal code.
Rights lawyers and defenders have been at daggers-drawn with law enforcement officers across the country since government gave firm instructions for security operatives to bring to book all alleged homosexuals and Lesbians and not to give listening ears to guy rights defenders. This is a developing story.