BY ATIA TILARIOUS AZOHNWI
Mancho Bibixy has called for peace and unity within the ranks of Anglophones as the situation in the North West and South West Regions remains uncertain. He went on to appreciate measures being put in place to free all those arrested in the course of what has been christened “the Anglophone crisis”.
Mancho was speaking at the Kondengui Central Prison on November 10, 2017 during a visit paid them by human rights lawyer, Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor affectionately referred to as Agbor Balla.
“I spent Friday, November 10th with Mancho Bibixy, Terence Penn and our brothers in Kondengui Prison. Mancho and Penn are in high spirits in spite of their dire conditions in prison and the continued uncertainty around their trial. During this meeting, Mancho Bibixy repeatedly called for peace and unity amongst all Anglophones and appreciated efforts towards the release of all detainees as he wants to see everyone free,” Agbor Balla said in a statement.
The Coffin Revolutionist Mancho Bibixy had on October 26, 2017 asked the judge of the Yaounde Military Court to sentence him to life imprisonment and let go of the others detained in connection to the ongoing Anglophone crisis.The hearing was adjourned to November 30, 2017 to give time for the court to prepare prosecuting witnesses.
Agbor Balla had earlier paid a visit on Tuesday, November 7, to Marcel Amabo and Barrister Edwin Fongo who are currently detained at the Secretariat of State for Defense (SED) in Yaoundé.
Agbor Balla who is President of the Fako Lawyers Association (FAKLA) and Vice President of the African Bar Association (AfBA) said in a statement that:
“Marcel is a dynamic and hardworking man who stands against injustice. His arrest has disrupted his wedding plans. Barrister Edwin, a Common Law Lawyer who attended all court sessions during my trial is also in high spirit. We had a long talk, encouraging them to remain very strong in spirit as we work hard to advocate for their freedom.”
He adds that: “On Thursday, November 9, during a visit to the Judicial Police at Elig Essono where we have 11 of our people detained. I was heartbroken and sad to discover some who have been detained for four months without a single visitor, not charged and have no legal support. While encouraging Germaine Dzenjoh, Fri Christabel and Tita Eric to stay resilient, I call on us all to remember we are one family, therefore we ought to locate our brothers and sisters and support them to the best of our abilities.
“Germain is a Sakerrette who was arrested at her jobsite, a printing press in Limbe. She has a 3 year-old son, a poor and widowed mother and lost her father just a few months back.
“Fri Christabel is a fruit trader who was arrested on her way home from selling at the road side. She is a mother of twins, the children have been sent to be with her ailing mother in the village for now. Both women are main bread winners of their families and are the only two women locked at Elig Essono.
“Professor Eric Tita who lectures at the University of Bamenda is currently suffering from problems with his sight as a result of detention for four months.”
Barrister Agbor Balla in a statement said his visits to those detained reenergised his spirit, emboldened his courage, empowered his determination and he promised them that “We Will Not Rest Till You All Return Home Free!”