By Bakah Derick (debakah2004@gmail.com)
The
Government of Cameroon has remained mute despite calls by the media in the
North West Region NWR for the release of Journalist Wawa Jackson Nfor.
The Calls
that have been on for some time now with intensification in the last week
targeting the highest office of the country seems to have fallen on deaf ears.  |
| Campaign flyer by NW Media |
The combined
campaign by the NW chapters of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists
CAMASEJ, Cameroon Community Media Network CCMN NW/W and Cameroon Journalists’
Trade Union CJTU/SNJC, have been using social media platforms like Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and traditional media to demand the release of
Wawa Jackson.
Arrested on
the 15th of May in Nkambe, Wawa has been in detention till the moment
of this report with several adjournments. According to Barrister Ngwang Oliver Shey,
defense counsel for the detained journalist, he is charged for publishing secessionist
information and threat of life (a charge we are told was later dropped.)
Wawa Jackson
has pleaded not guilty of publishing secessionist information the charge he is
committed to stand trial for. The case
we gathered is still pending a judgement from the presiding judge who is
demanding more time.
Many with
similar offenses have benefitted from Presidential clemency on not fewer than
two instances within the on-going armed conflict in the NWR.
The Africa Program Coordinator for the Committee to
Protect Journalist CPJ Angela Quintal in several tweets has called for the
release of Wawa Jackson and other journalists detained in Cameroon. These calls
have not met fertile ground to germinate.
The Campaign for his release by NW media comes after a
solidarity action that raised over 130 FCFA for the up keep of Journalist Wawa
in detention.
Wawa Jackson had taken a break from Abakwa FM Radio
where he worked into freelance before his arrest. He had also worked for a
local radio in Nkambe before joining Abakwa FM in Bamenda.