NIGERIAN JOURNALIST ARRESTED IN CAMEROUN ON CHARGES OF SPYING FOR BOKO HARAM.

A Nigerian journalist arrested in Cameroon,
accused of spying for Boko Haram
Simon Ateba who use to work with PM News and is the
publisher of Simonateba.com. A few days ago, he managed to
leave a message on Twitter and Facebook before he was locked up
in Cameroon on spying charges. The journalist who said he was in
the country to investigate the conditions of over 50,000 Nigerian
refugees camped there, was arrested for venturing into a refugee
camp without permission. Now they are threatening to charge him
for espionage, saying they suspect he was spying for Boko Haram.
See his tweets after the cut..
According to Premium Times;
Ateba received a grant from the International Centre for
Investigative Reporting in Abuja, to investigate the ordeals and
suffering of Nigerians who fled into Cameroon as their
communities came under sustained attacks from the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Dayo Aiyetan, executive director of the centre, confirmed that his
organisation is aware of Mr. Ateba’s travels and investigation.
“We are saddened that he is being incarcerated for doing his job,
and we demand his immediate release,” Mr. Aiyetan told Premium
Times
Below is what Simon wrote on Facebook
“Was given my phone for five minutes to make some calls. Just
spent my first night in Mokolo cell with two Nigerians who fled
Boko Haram terrorist attacks between Gwoza and Maiduguri in a
town or village called Sigesia. My first night in a cell in Cameroon
far north was because I went to a refugee camp with about 50,000
Nigerians to do an independent reporting without they allowing me
to do so.
“Having contacted the minister of communication, spoken to the
governor, the army spokesman here and having gone to the
UNHCR office in Maroua and spoken with officials there, I realised
they will never allow me to see Nigerians living there. So I went
anyway.
“Entered the camp and saw things for myself at Minawao camp, 12
kilometres in the bush from the main road and about 60 kilometres
from Maroua where Boko Haram have struck three times. I spent
the night with Abdulahi Amidou who fled and was accused of
bringing foodstuff. He denied it.
“Living the best hotel in Maroua to sleep in a stinking cell with
mosquitoes everywhere was shocking but Abdulahi and the rest
told me their horrific stories. My flight should be 31 from
Ndjamena but with me in a cell, that’s difficult to achieve.”
“Still with my phone in my cell. Before I left, I was told I will need
to meet the governor of the region who will grant me access to the
camp with Nigerians. I met the governor. He said he doesn’t have
power. That power rests with the minister of communication.
“I got in touch with the minister and the army spokesman, sent text
messages and so on. Here you need to travel to Yaoundé 800
kilometres away to meet the minister when he’s ready to meet
you. Then he will send you to meet the governor in person in
Maroua 800 kilometres back. Then the governor will send you to
see the mayor. Then the mayor will send you to the gendarmerie.
Then the gendarmerie will send people with you to the camp. The
minister will choose which Nigerian in the camp you will speak
with. And generally the leader who will tell you “We are grateful to
the Cameroonian government. We are just very well treated here”.
So that’s the procedure.”