February 24, 2020 Oku, Bui State, Northern Ambazonia: Cameroon Occupation Forces carried out yet another grave atrocity, abducting, torturing, and murdering innocent and unarmed civilians.

Eyewitnesses recounted that at least three individuals, including women and children, were forcibly taken from their homes under the cover of darkness. The victims were subjected to brutal torture, their cries for help echoing through the village as they suffered at the hands of their captors.

In the aftermath, the lifeless bodies of those abducted were discovered, bearing the horrific marks of extreme violence, a chilling testament to the systematic persecution and oppression of the Ambazonian people. This merciless act of extrajudicial killing instilled fear in the hearts of residents, as their loved ones were snatched away and executed without trial, a blatant violation of fundamental human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

The actions of the Cameroon Occupation Forces on this day constitute War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity Under International Law. The Geneva Conventions (1949) and Additional Protocol II (1977) explicitly prohibit the targeting of civilians, enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial executions in armed conflicts. Specifically:

Violation of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions – This act violates the prohibition against violence to life and person, particularly murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture against individuals not taking an active part in hostilities, including civilians, women, and children. Violation of the Convention Against Torture (1984) – The Cameroon forces engaged in inhumane and degrading treatment, which is strictly outlawed by international law.

Breach of the Rome Statute (1998) – Crimes Against Humanity – The systematic abduction, torture, and murder of civilians constitutes Crimes against humanity, as defined under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions – The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) prohibits state-sponsored executions without due process. The killing of unarmed civilians without trial violates Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

This heinous war crime demands international condemnation, accountability, and justice for the victims and their families. The targeting of civilians in conflict is never justified, and those responsible must be held legally and morally accountable under International Law.

GENOCIDE IN AMBAZONIA