On 10 February 2025, in his annual address to the nation’s youth, President Paul Biya hailed Tony Obam Bikoué as an exemplary young entrepreneur. The Head of State commended his contributions to the agricultural sector, an industry crucial for Cameroon's economic future. This public recognition prompted Équinoxe Television’s editorial team to commission a thorough investigation into the entrepreneur’s activities.
However, what was meant to be a routine journalistic assignment took a violent turn. Upon arrival, the journalists were met with hostility and were brutally assaulted by unidentified individuals. Their equipment was seized, and in a shocking escalation, humiliating videos of the attack were widely circulated on social media, exposing them to further public indignity.
The Cameroon Journalists’ Trade Union (CJTU) has strongly condemned this barbaric act, describing it as a flagrant violation of press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to work in safety and dignity. In a statement issued on 15 February 2025, CJTU reaffirmed its support for the assaulted journalists and denounced the increasing trend of violence against media professionals.
The union has demanded the immediate return of the confiscated equipment and reminded the public that the law provides avenues for individuals or institutions aggrieved by a media report to seek redress through legal channels rather than resorting to intimidation and physical violence. Furthermore, CJTU has called on the authorities to take urgent action in identifying and prosecuting those responsible for the attack.
Emphasising that journalism is an essential pillar of democracy, CJTU urged all stakeholders to uphold press freedom and ensure a secure working environment for journalists.
“The press is not the problem; it is part of the solution,” the statement concluded, reinforcing the union’s commitment to defending media rights and upholding professional journalism in Cameroon.
By Bakah Derick
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