February 30, 2020, Babaki Torguh Mezam State, Northern Ambazonia, the Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out yet another gruesome act of brutality against innocent and unarmed civilians. According to eyewitnesses, heavily armed troops stormed the peaceful village, instilling terror as they indiscriminately abducted, tortured, and executed civilians without justification.
The tragic events of that day were marked by the heart-wrenching killing of a six-year-old boy, who became one of the many innocent victims of the merciless crackdown. As villagers scrambled in fear, the young child, caught in the chaos, was subjected to the full force of military aggression, his life cruelly and unjustifiably taken in a manner that defies human decency.
Parents and community members watched in horror as the soldiers, showing no regard for the fundamental rights of civilians, particularly vulnerable children, carried out their gruesome acts with impunity. The abduction and systematic torture of other civilians, both young and old, added to the harrowing scene, as the once-thriving community was left in ruins, mourning the loss of their loved ones.
This calculated operation, carried out by the Cameroon Occupation Forces, was not an isolated event but part of a pattern of state-sanctioned terror against the people of Ambazonia, aimed at crushing their resistance and silencing their cries for self-determination.
The international community must not remain silent in the face of such horrific crimes against humanity. Justice must be pursued for the victims of Babanki Tungoh and countless other communities that have suffered under the brutal occupation.
The abduction, torture, and killing of innocent civilians, including a six-year-old child, constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity under international law. Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) classifies the willful killing, torture, and inhumane treatment of civilians during an armed conflict as a War Crime.
The killing of a child is a blatant violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which guarantees the right to life, protection, and survival of children under Article 6. Additionally, Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions strictly prohibits violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture, especially against civilians not taking part in hostilities.
The execution of a child under military aggression amounts to a grave breach of International Humanitarian Law, making it a prosecutable offense under global human rights standards. The perpetrators must be held accountable before international courts to ensure justice for the victims and prevent further atrocities.
GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA