May 18, 2019, Dadi village, Manyu State, Southern Ambazonia, Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out a brutal and inhumane attack against innocent and unarmed civilians, leaving the community in a state of grief and terror.
The villagers, who had been living peacefully, were suddenly confronted with unimaginable violence as armed forces forcefully invaded their homes, abducting multiple individuals without cause. Among the victims was an elderly man, Mr. Osang Richard, who, despite his age and defenseless state, was not spared from the atrocities. Witnesses recounted the harrowing scenes of people being dragged from their homes, their cries for mercy ignored by the soldiers who had come with one intent—destruction.
Those who were abducted suffered unspeakable torture at the hands of the forces, enduring severe beatings, inhumane treatment, and other forms of brutality before their lives were ultimately taken in cold blood. The chilling reality of these extrajudicial killings sent shockwaves through the village, leaving families in mourning and the community devastated. The terror inflicted upon Dadi village was not just physical but psychological, as survivors struggled to comprehend the loss of their loved ones and the horror they had witnessed.
The targeting of innocent civilians, particularly an elderly man like Mr. Osang Richard, symbolized the sheer ruthlessness of the attack, reinforcing the fear and oppression under which the people of Southern Ambazonia have been forced to live.
The absence of justice for these heinous crimes only deepens the wounds of the affected families, who remain in search of answers and accountability. The massacre in Dadi village serves as yet another painful reminder of the systematic violence inflicted upon the Ambazonian people, a campaign of terror aimed at breaking the spirit of a community longing for peace and justice.
This act constitutes a War Crime Under International Law, specifically violating multiple provisions of the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The forceful abduction, torture, and execution of unarmed civilians directly contravene Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture of individuals not actively participating in hostilities.
The execution of civilians, particularly the elderly Mr. Osang Richard, constitutes an extrajudicial killing, a Crime Under Article 8 of the Rome Statute, which criminalizes willful killing, torture, and inhumane treatment of civilians during armed conflict.
The unlawful targeting of non-combatants without military necessity violates the principles of distinction and proportionality, key tenets of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Furthermore, the systematic nature of these attacks against civilians may also fall under Crimes against humanity, as outlined in Article 7 of the Rome Statute, which condemns widespread and systematic attacks against a civilian population. The perpetrators of these crimes must be held accountable Under International Law to ensure justice for the victims and prevent further atrocities.