December 12, 2021, Ikata, Fako State, Southern Ambazonia, Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out yet another brutal and inhumane attack on innocent and unarmed civilians. Eyewitnesses recounted that civilians, including women and children, were forcibly abducted, subjected to horrific acts of torture, and ultimately killed.

The relentless violence did not end with human casualties; the occupation forces went further to burn down homes, leaving entire families displaced and without shelter. These deliberate acts of destruction targeted not only the people but also their means of survival, as homes and properties essential to their livelihoods were reduced to ashes.

The level of cruelty displayed in this attack underscores a clear intent to instill fear, exert dominance, and break the resilience of the Ambazonian people. The indiscriminate killing of civilians and destruction of their homes exemplify the oppressive tactics employed by the Cameroon Occupation Forces to suppress any form of resistance and impose their rule through sheer terror.

This attack constitutes a grave War Crime and a blatant violation of multiple international laws and human rights statutes. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), Article 3, the willful killing, torture, and inhumane treatment of civilians during an armed conflict are explicitly prohibited.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Article 8, defines such actions—including the killing of civilians, torture, and the destruction of civilian property without military necessity—as war crimes. Furthermore, the burning of homes and targeting of civilians, especially women and children, constitutes a crime against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, as it reflects a systematic attack against a civilian population. Additionally, Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which guarantees individuals the right to an adequate standard of living, including housing and security, was directly violated by the forced displacement and destruction of homes.

The actions of the Cameroon Occupation Forces in Ikata amount to serious violations of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, demanding urgent international intervention. The international community has a moral and legal obligation to investigate these atrocities, hold the perpetrators accountable, and provide humanitarian assistance to the affected populations. Justice must be served to prevent further acts of brutality and to uphold the fundamental human rights of the Ambazonian people.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA