CAMEROON: Amnesty: Troops tortured Boko Haram suspects

Cameroon forces have killed and tortured dozens of people accused of supporting Boko Haram, often without evidence, in the fight against the armed group, Amnesty International said. Most of the torture is happening at a base that has also been used by US and French troops, the international rights organisation said in a new report […]

Cameroon forces have killed and tortured dozens of people accused of supporting Boko Haram, often without evidence, in the fight against the armed group, Amnesty International said.

Most of the torture is happening at a base that has also been used by US and French troops, the international rights organisation said in a new report on Thursday.

Amnesty’s report documented 101 cases of arbitrary arrest and torture by Cameroonian troops between 2013 and 2017 at more than 20 different sites.

Some of the victims were tortured to death, it said.

“We have repeatedly and unequivocally condemned the atrocities and war crimes committed by Boko Haram in Cameroon,” said Alioune Tine, Amnesty International’s regional director for West and Central Africa.

“But, nothing could justify the callous and widespread practice of torture committed by the security forces against ordinary Cameroonians.”

Tine condemned the “horrific violations” by the Cameroon forces which amount to “war crimes”.