Cameroonian Activist Narrates Chilling Encounter With Nigeria Police, Laments

Cameroonian Activist Narrates Chilling Encounter With Nigerian Police, Laments ‘Unlawful Detention, Torture, False Kidnapping, Terrorism Accusations’

A human rights activist from Southern Cameroon, Tse Anye Kevin, has accused the Nigerian police of wrongful arrest, severe physical abuse, and illegal detention.

Kevin said he was falsely implicated in a kidnapping and terrorism case.

Kevin, a pan-Africanist, trade unionist, and former Vice President of the Confederation of Cameroonian Trade Unions, is also a founding member of the Consortium of Southern Cameroons, Vice President of State 55 Africa, and African Political Officer of the Global African Congress UK.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, Kevin explained his harrowing ordeal that began in the early hours of October 2, 2024, when heavily armed officers from the Nigerian Police Department’s Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos Island, stormed his home.

According to Kevin, five officers, without prior notice or a search warrant, arrived at his residence at approximately 6:00 am.

Upon hearing a voice outside his door, he cautiously began unlocking it, only for the officers to forcefully barge in before the key had fully turned.

“They greeted me with slaps and severe beatings,” Kevin recalled, describing the immediate physical assault he endured.

As the confusion unfolded, the officers reportedly interrogated him, demanding to know the whereabouts of his alleged gang members and weapons.

“They shouted questions like, ‘Where is your gun? Where are you hiding the weapons? Where are the other gang members?’ I was shocked and kept telling them I had no weapons, no gang, and that I wasn’t a kidnapper,” Kevin said.

Despite his protests, the officers allegedly threatened him with torture. One officer warned Kevin that if he didn’t confess to the charges, he would be taken to a torture chamber where they would “hang him, peel his skin, and force him to confess.”

Kevin said that later that evening, he was transferred to an overcrowded jail cell, where about 43 other inmates were crammed into a space of just 4 square meters.

“There was no room to sleep, and we were practically suffocating,” Kevin described, adding that he endured further beatings while in custody.

The assault left him with severe head pain, body aches, and eye distress, for which he is now seeking medical attention.

He said, “Due to the severe physical assault, I struggled to maintain clear thoughts and cannot recall everything I said during the ordeal.

“I was handcuffed while the officers searched my room and seized my laptop, documents, and phones. They then took me, still in handcuffs, to their headquarters at Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos Island.

“Upon arrival, I was informed that I was being accused of kidnapping and terrorism, both within Nigeria and internationally. They claimed these accusations were made by my (Cameroonian) government and that my repatriation was imminent.

“I was told that after giving my statement, they would contact my embassy for an immediate handover. They also mentioned that the la Republic du Cameroun LRC government had placed a substantial bounty on my capture.”

Kevin said after his arrest, he was brought to the Officer in Charge (OIC), who approved his detention and ordered that all necessary procedures be followed.

As he left the OIC’s office, one of the officers advised him to admit to all the charges, warning that he was being taken to a torture chamber where they would hang him, peel his skin, and force a confession.

He said, “During the process, they recorded a video interview of me and took photographs. Afterward, I was brought back to the OIC’s office. Unlike the others, he seemed to have a different perspective. He mentioned that human rights activists and community leaders fleeing crises and wars in their countries—such as those in Ukraine, Russia, Israel, and Palestine—should be protected if they seek refuge in Nigeria.”

“He asked, ‘Would Nigeria send them back to be killed?’ He then advised the investigators to treat me well and informed them that he was personally interested in the outcome of my case,” Kevin stated.

Later that evening, he was taken to a cramped jail cell that housed around 43 inmates in a space barely 4 square meters.

“There was no room to sleep, and we were practically suffocating from the overcrowding. I endured further beatings, which left me with severe head pain, body aches, and eye distress. I am now seeking medical attention for these injuries.

“The following morning, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) sent his assistant to check on my condition, ensuring I was still in custody. I believe he contacted the investigator regarding my situation.

“Yesterday I was in hospital, today I couldn’t go because I feel so sick. My head is not ok, I can’t remember things well. Hearing strange continues sound.”

Kevin commended Nigerian human rights activist and former presidential candidate from the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, for playing a pivotal role in rescuing him from the dire situation.

According to him, along with his assistant, Comrade Netufo Tommy, Comrade Wiseman, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), and Comrade Chris Uyot of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), all worked tirelessly on his behalf.

“I owe special thanks to Leader Sowore, who personally secured my bail on the 3rd of October, 2024. My heartfelt gratitude goes to all those who assisted but whom I may not have mentioned here. May God and our ancestors bless you all abundantly,” he added.

Efforts made by SaharaReporters to reach the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, and the Public Relations Officer of Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Lagos, SP Ayuba Tunni Umma, were unsuccessful as they did not answer their calls or reply to text messages sent to him.

Source:- Saharereporters