Biya’s Troops molest journalist for covering GCE examinations

Biya’s armed troops dispatched to the Cameroon College of Arts and Science(CCAS) Kumba molested a Cameraman of Spectrum Television, STV, Marcel Itoe Likoli for filming scenes of the kick off of the 2017 session of the General Certificate of Education, GCE examinations.

The Post gathered that Itoe was only let off the hook after he was forced to delete all the images he had filmed from his camera.

It is reported that Itoe surfaced on campus that morning and went about filming before the security agents of the school and some gendarmes dispatched for security purposes pounced on him.

He is said to have explained that since the GCE is a public exam, it is good for the media to report on the situation in Kumba.

His explanations fell short of convincing anyone as those who had gotten hold of him demanded an authorisation.

To save himself from further embarrassment, Itoe is said to have rushed to the office of the Principal of CCAS Kumba, Julius Fonge to get permission. 

Unknown to Itoe, the reaction from the school administration further complicated his situation.

The Principal is reportedly turned down Itoe's request on grounds that instructions from hierarchy forbids any media from covering this year’s GCE except authorised.

Fonge is reported to have further rebuked  the STV reporter,  stating that  when things are good  no one comes to cover them for the world to know,  but when the going is tough that’s when TV cameras surface. 

An STV journalist who refused to be named told The Post on condition of anonymity that the Principal queried Itoe stating that after filming, a different story will be narrated in the media.

Faced with multiple pressures, the STV worker is said to have rushed to the Meme Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education, Akwo Eyoh, but his request was rejected.

Itoe is reported to have met the Delegate alongside the Meme SDO about to embark on field tours for the same purpose, but the Delegate declined giving him permission, noting that only his hierarchy can decide.

Exams Begin Under Tight Security

 Given the prevailing socio-political tension in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, the GCE exams opened under tight security.

Troops patrolled major school neighbourhoods in Kumba, while police officers are stationed at major examination centres.

The Senior Divisional Officer, SDO for Meme, Chamberlin Ntou' ou Ndong in the company of Divisional Officers and other security officers made rounds to the different examination centres.

Reports from across the Division speak of a hitch free examination kick off. 

It will be recalled that the written phase of the examination rumbled off amid calls for civil disobedience from certain quarters.