Bamenda, NW region:

Journalists Kidnapped & Freed “Unharmed”

By Njodzefe Nestor in B’da

Ambe Macmillan Awa

Ambe Macmillan Awa, journalist cum blogger practicing in the restive North West region of Cameroon has been released after spending several hours in captivity.

                He was released at about 11 AM on Friday February 22, 2019 “unharmed” and without paying any ransom as it is the case with recent kidnappings.

                Awa, who is the North West Chapter President of the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ and also Secretary General of the Cameroon Journalists' Trade Union, Northwest Chapter was kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be separatist fighters on Thursday, February 21, 2017.

                It is not clear what prompted the kidnappers to set him free but social media advocacy likewise pressure from national and international journalism associations and trade unions likewise human rights groups have been sufficiently credited.

                This unfortunate kidnap triggered an avalanche of condemnation from journalists, national and international journalism associations, trade unions and human rights groups who were unanimous that “journalism is not a crime” and that journalists like doctors should not be targets during crisis.

                The Cameroon Journalists Trade Union, the Cameroon Association of English speaking and other journalism associations in separate statements condemned the arrests and called for the “unconditional release” of the journalist.

                This was amplified by the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Association of Christian Journalists of Nigeria amongst others which insisting that Ambe Macmillan Awa should be freed unharmed.

                Speaking to journalists after his release, Ambe revealed that the “gun men” while he had been taken away accused him of advocating for school resumption. He also revealed that he was not physically harmed during the process and that he did not pay any ransom.

                “I sincerely thank all of you for relentlessly praying and advocating for my release. I'm just so short of words. I thank everybody, from my family to church members and media colleagues. Never knew I meant this much to you all. I appreciate the media solidarity thrown behind me nationally and internationally. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Let the past be the past. The practice of good journalism continues” he noted.