According to a press release issued by the SNJC, Alioum received a call and was invited to report on an event. While he was on his way to the venue, he was apprehended by plain-clothes officials and taken to the far North Regional Division of the Judicial Police where he was shown a warrant for his arrest. He is still held in custody.
‘The reason for his arrest is not yet clear, but the warrant for his arrest is related to an article published on 9 November about ‘an alleged brawl between the president of the Garoua High Court and his Chief Clark’.
The SNJC denounced the high-handed nature of the arrest of journalist Aminou Alioum and "the desire of certain authorities to prevent the press from fulfilling its social mission. SNJC demands that Alioum Aminou's rights should be respected. SNJC calls on all its members and supporters to remain steadfast in the face of this adversity.
A statement issued by the Society of Editors of Canal 2 International on Tuesday, 14 November condemned the arrest of Aminou Alioum and called for the rights of journalists to be respected.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The arrest of Aminou Alioum is an act of intimidation by the authorities in an attempt to silence journalists and deny citizens their right to receive information. Aminou has committed no crime in reporting on an issue that is of interest to the public. The principles of democracy demand that the media must be allowed to do its work without any form of intimidation or harassment. The authorities in Cameroon must do more to protect the rights of journalists and guarantee their safety and security, especially when two journalists have already been killed in Cameroon this year.”
The IFJ joins its affiliate the SNJC in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Aminou Alioum.