In a statement issued in Cameroon on Tuesday, the journalists union in the
country said President Paul Biya himself ordered Mr. Ateba’s release.
Mr. Ateba was arrested by the country’s security while investigating the conditions of Nigerian refugees camped in the country’s far north.
gathered that the journalist decided to visit
the country after receiving a grant from the
International Centre for Investigative
Reporting, Abuja, to investigate the ordeals and suffering of Nigerians who fled to Cameroon following Boko Haram attacks on their communities.
the country after receiving a grant from the
International Centre for Investigative
Reporting, Abuja, to investigate the ordeals and suffering of Nigerians who fled to Cameroon following Boko Haram attacks on their communities.
The journalist too announced his freedom on his Facebook timeline on Tuesday, saying he was subjected to awful condition
in the detention, and that he was questioned many times for alleged espionage for Boko Haram terrorists.
in the detention, and that he was questioned many times for alleged espionage for Boko Haram terrorists.
“After three nights and a day in a stinking cell in Cameroon’s far north and a long questioning at the
office of their state security services where they asked me repeatedly “are you a spy for
Boko Haram?”, I said no,” Mr. Ateba posted
on Tuesday.
office of their state security services where they asked me repeatedly “are you a spy for
Boko Haram?”, I said no,” Mr. Ateba posted
on Tuesday.
Continuing, the journalist revealed that “they asked again, “so you’re not a spy for Boko Haram?” I said “Sir as I said before, I am not a spy, not a spy for Boko Haram, ISIS or any other terrorist organisation or country. I am just a powerless journalist with a keyboard and a camera travelling the world to tell little stories of powerless people.
“Then the state security service agents took me to my hotel room around midnight but without my passport, and phones. I was then taken to the office of their general delegation 30 minutes ago (Tuesday) and made to explain again to the top cop
“My passport and phones have been given back to me, and I am free to travel out. Sometimes this profession called journalism sucks, but looking back, I am happy I am a journalist. I will just get back to the cell to give some mosquito stuff and food to the three guys there who taught me to count from one to ten in Fulfulde, the language spoken in northern Cameroon. I thank God,” he said.
Mr. Ateba disclosed that he would travel to Dubai and rest “after a thank you tour of Abuja and Lagos”.
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