Security officials are reportedly searching for Eme Brandy Bessem Enoh Tataw, the former Vice President of the University of Buea Law Association, who has been missing since late 2020.
The alarm has been raised by her relatives and friends, who say security officers recently stormed the family’s residence, demanding to know her whereabouts.
According to family sources, the officers have threatened the family, insisting that they disclose where she is hiding so she can appear for questioning.
Bessem is said to have found herself caught between security forces and separatist fighters during the Anglophone crisis, suffering repeated attacks and facing pressure from both sides.
Sources say that in April 2019, she was travelling in a vehicle when separatist fighters allegedly shot and killed someone associated with it. She was reportedly among the female passengers who were sexually assaulted during the incident.
Days later, armed separatists allegedly raided her parents’ home, demanding money. Bessem was reportedly sexually assaulted during the raid.
The attacks allegedly continued into 2020, when separatist fighters again stormed her parents’ residence. The incident reportedly claimed the life of her grandfather.
That same year, she is said to have survived another attack after attempting to rescue a relative who was being assaulted by separatist fighters. She reportedly fled the scene.
While dealing with these attacks, Bessem was also reportedly being sought by security forces over her activities as a student leader at the University of Buea. She was accused of leading law students in protests against the university administration.
While serving as Vice President of the university’s Law Association, she was among students who staged a peaceful demonstration on campus.
The protest reportedly turned violent, leading to the arrest and detention of several students. Some students were also reported to have died in the aftermath, while Bessem is said to have fled to safety.
Her activism had already placed her at the centre of student debates and protests over conditions at the university. During her tenure as Vice President, she reportedly played a leading role in raising concerns about students’ welfare and grievances against the administration.
Family sources further claim that an arrest warrant was issued against her in connection with the student protests. The reported warrant is said to have heightened her fears of arrest and forced her into hiding.
The reported renewed search has raised concerns about what could happen if she is apprehended, particularly the possibility of prosecution under Cameroon’s anti-terrorism law.
The legislation, which has drawn criticism from international human rights organisations over its application and implications for civil liberties, allows certain cases to be tried before military courts. Those convicted of offences under the law can face lengthy prison terms, including sentences of 15 to 25 years and, in some cases, life imprisonment.
For Bessem’s family and friends, the reported search adds to years of uncertainty surrounding her disappearance and the circumstances that forced her into hiding.
By Chris Mbang