Cameroonian officials say there has been a surge in civilian attacks on police. A video shared on Cameroon’s social media showed citizens mocking and beating the police in response to alleged brutality and corruption.
The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, responsible for the protection of civilians, said that in the past two weeks, at least 15 videos of civilians rejecting police orders and attacking police were shared on social media platforms.
Nji said the police confirmed that his officer was the victim in the video.
He said that in some cases, the police have been victims of humiliation, beatings and other forms of assaults on civilians that the police are supposed to protect.
This kind of irresponsible behavior towards the police is unacceptable,” Engi said. “It should be understood that the police serve everyone under the respect and guidance of the head of state. [Cameroon’s President] Paul Biya. No one, regardless of their social status, for whatever reason, has the right to attack the police on duty. “
In a video, a driver refused the police request to search his car, beat the policeman, and then drove his car over him. Some onlookers applauded.
Another video appeared to show a civilian carrying a policeman on his shoulder and then throwing him into the back of a truck.
It is believed that civilians are retaliating against police brutality or corruption.
Nji said that if civilians are dissatisfied, they should send a complaint of suspected police misconduct to the chief of police, who can take disciplinary action.
However, human rights lawyer Christopher Ndong (Christopher Ndong) said that when police brutality and corruption are reported, senior government and police officials will not conduct investigations.
He added that the police frequently beat people, tortured and detained some people, and solicited bribes from innocent civilians.
“No adult Cameroonian will not tell you the excessive behavior of the police,” Ndong said. “Your documents are all complete, and the police said you were wrong. You must give 500 [Francs (XAF) or $1 as a bribe]. you have [car] If the document is wrong, the police will not seize the vehicle in accordance with the law. A policeman will ask the man to pay a fine determined by him, while the state will sit back and watch.You see the huge sums of money he collects and he does it arrogantly because they [police] There are guns. “
Police officials denied these allegations, saying that most police officers in Cameroon were neither corrupt nor involved in the abuse of civilians.
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