My name is AKEMETCHA FORBUH CHARLES, I am a young advocate for Peace and this is my story. The year is 2020, just a few months after my return from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The day is very bright with the rays of the morning Sun little was I aware that the day would be challenging for me. I am following up with my appointments for the day Just Like any other routine day, and on my way to run some errands for myself, the police patrol is driving and they pass me by just behind the University of Buea around a place known as Bulu Blind Centre from Sand Pit, Great Soppo. The patrol car immediately stops after going a few meters ahead, I do not bother much because it is of their duty to stop and check for identification documents. The police officer asks for my national identity card and I hand it over without any hesitation, but it is not given back to me. They go further to check my bag and find nothing incriminating inside the bag.

 They ask me to take off my shirt and proceed to scratch my back vigorously, this is followed by another round of questioning by an OFFICER, who says “Where are you heading to? In my response I say I have a few errands to run around mile 16. After some back and forth between themselves in the French language which I have little mastery of, the Commissioner tells me to climb into the back of the Van, I explain to him that I am a Law student at the University of Buea and that it is illegal to detain me without charges. This irritates him, so he gives orders for me to be beaten and put at the back of the van forcefully. Here I was with bruises on my face and a swollen ankle with pains all over my body.

It does not end here; he still insists that I follow them to the station and explain myself meanwhile there is nothing for me to explain. I am greatly hurt and in pain and as soon as the van starts moving, I ask one of the Junior officers whom we are sitting at the back to use my phone because it is my right. Fortunately for me, he says yes and I put a call through to a friend for help, after getting the facts of the story, he tells me to hold on for some time so he could table the matter before the Commissioner of Tiko who is an acquaintance. The Commissioner of Tiko immediately intervenes and calls his Colleagues in Buea for my release. After verification of my Identity once again, I am asked to go home even though I had injuries.  I head to the hospital to treat myself but at my own expense because I’m trying to avoid further escalation.

I am thinking about the many Human Rights Violations, Ab use, Torture, Disappearances, Rape, Burning and Looting carried out by both parties. It is my wish to see the government engage in a peaceful mediated dialogue without pre-conditions and I want to be part of that history. Peace is Possible