Playing Puntius Pilate:

SW Governor Washes Hands off Wazizi Case

By Boris Esono in Buea

More than 30 journalists gathered at SW Governor's Officeto demand the whereabouts of their colleague Wazizi

For more than 300 days and counting, Samuel Wazizi, a Buea-based Pidgin-English broadcaster has not been seen in public ever since his arrest by Cameroon’s security forces.

                Cameroonian journalists, more than 30 in numbers on June 4, 2020, descended on the office of the SW Governor to demand answers to the whereabouts of their colleague, and to verify the latest news that the journalist died in military custody. The in-camera meeting consisting of representatives of Journalists Associations, on the one hand, security operatives, the Attorney General of the Region, SG and the Governor on the other hand.

                Journalist Samuel Wazizi was arrested on August 2, 2019, and taken to the Muea Police station, located in Buea. He was then moved according to media reports to the 21st Motorized Infantry Brigade, where he has not been seen since. Many reports hold that the journalist was transported to Yaounde, something which Gov. Okalia Bilai confirmed to journalists who had visited his office to demand answers to the whereabouts of their colleague.

                Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai made it abundantly clear that he (Wazzi) was taken from the Muea police to military custody because the issue borders on terrorism, and two days after, he was moved to Yaounde in good health.

                As to whether or not the journalist is still alive, Gov. Okalia Bilai said it is Yaounde that can answer that question. Pressed on the latest information that the journalist is dead, Gov. Okalia maintained sealed lips on that matter.

                “We must not relent on this issue. We must find out whether Wazizi is truly dead or he is dead. Where is Wazizi’s corpse,” Chef Paul Kemayang, VP Commonwealth Journalists Association, Africa, and Cameroon chapter President questioned? 

                "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We shall follow up Wazizi’s case until we know where he ended. Either he is still alive or a corpse, we will follow up,” Chief Paul Kemayang added.

                “The question I had was quite simple, I wanted to ask the SW Gov. was that is Wazizi is dead? I cannot say whether my colleague is dead until when the Cameroon government tells us so,” Derick Chatou, President of the Cameroon Journalists Trade Union (SNJC) said.

                “We have been made by the Governor that his office does not have that capacity to handle issues out of the region. We need to continue asking questions without concluding. Journalists should not be low spirited they need to keep the flame alive, and we are going to Yaounde to ask the powers that be.”

                Maimo Davidson, Vice President of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ told his colleagues that the Governor washed his hands that Wazizi’s dead does not concern him and he cannot intervene. He (Governor) said he cannot question anybody in Yaounde that Wazizi’s case was linked to terrorism. 

                Asked if the Governor confirmed whether or not the journalist is dead, the VP of CAMASEJ said indirectly the Governor confirmed it. “We want to say that it will not end here or it does not end today. We are bent on making sure that justice for Wazizi must prevail.”

                Maimo Davidson went on to add that: “If they do not want to tell us what happened to the journalist in the Region then definitely Yaounde is going to tell us. It does not cause us anything to match to Yaounde to questioned authorities. Justice must prevail for Wazizi that is what we stand for.”