October 12 poll: MINAT boss announces arrests of Prof Aba'a Oyono, Anicet Ekane, Djeukam Tchameni.

Aside announcing the arrests, Minister Atanga Nji has also declared a fresh merciless clampdown on certain political figures whom he is accusing of scheming to “seize power by revolts”, through a “well-orchestrated insurrectional plan”.

He issued the fresh warning during a press conference in Yaounde, last Saturday, October 25. 

As government agent in the electoral process, Atanga Nji said the presser was to inform the media on certain events that could seriously jeopardise the security of the nation at a time citizens await the proclamation of results of the October 12 poll, by the Constitutional Council. 

The member of government warned that henceforth, the full arm of the law will descend on any politician calling for nationwide protests or acts that can destabilise the tranquility of the country. 

The interior minister directed a veiled threat at presidential candidates, warning that: “It should be clearly understood that being a presidential candidate does not, in any way, confer immunity upon anyone”. 

Atanga Nji said such calls for protests by certain politicians “with an obsession for power undoubtedly creates conditions for a security crisis and contribute to the implementation of the insurrection scheme”. 

The MINAT boss was categorical that Cameroon cannot afford the luxury of a new security crisis while it is still grappling with the raging armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions and attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in the Far North Region. 

Accuses Tchiroma of publishing fake results 

Atanga Nji accused the candidate of the FSNC party of peddling lies to Cameroonians and claiming victory with fake results on social media. 

The MINAT boss said after flooding social media with “false or incomplete results”, Tchrioma proceeded to “unlawfully declare himself the winner of the election”. 

He blamed the destructions in Dschang during protests on supporters of Issa Tchiroma, warning that investigations are ongoing to fish out more culprits.

“I would like to emphasis that, in connection with this insurrectional movement, investigations have been opened and a number of people have already been arrested. Others are actively being hunted down and will be held accountable for their actions before the competent courts,” he disclosed. 

Right channels to dispute election results 

Minister Atanga Nji reminded all 2025 presidential candidates that Cameroon is a State governed by the rule of law.

He insisted that any “dispute regarding the results of the elections must be brought before the competent authorities, in strict compliance with the law”. 

Ensuring respect of the laws 

Atanga Nji was firm that as the Minister in charge of civil liberties, he does his utmost to ensure the respect of laid down laws that guarantee the right to protest. 

He warned that any demonstration that does not comply with the requirements of prior authorisation from competent authorities, details of the purpose of the manifestation and the routes to be taken by protesters, and the identification of the organisers, in order to establish responsibility in the event of any misconduct, “is illegal” and initiators “will be held accountable for their actions in accordance with the law”.

Atanga Nji advised parents nationwide to ensure the safety of their children and not allow them to be “manipulated or misled” by those he described as “corrupt, selfish, and irresponsible politicians” to “perpetrate their evil plans”.

“I urge all Cameroonians to go about their daily activities as usual and wait in all calmness, for the official proclamation of the presidential election results by the Constitutional Council, the only competent body to do so,” he advised.

The minister called on compatriots in the diaspora, some of whom he said are trying to “destabilise the country and wreak havoc through seditious posts on social media, to remain calm”. 

He encouraged public opinion leaders, traditional rulers, religious authorities, and the various components of the nation, to unite as one man to promote peace and stability in the country. 

Threatens "wayward" media organs 

Atanga Nji also urged media professionals to uphold their republican duty of informing, educating, and raising awareness among the population and not use their media organ as tool for the destruction of the country.

“They will certainly recall the destructive role played by the so-called “hate media” during the genocide that occurred in an East African country. Let it be clearly understood that any media outlets promoting insurrection, spreading hate speech or false information, will face the full force of the law,” he warned. 

Insurrection plans thwarted 

The minister lauded strides made by defence and security forces over the past weeks to thwart moves engaged by "irresponsible" politicians to plunge the country into chaos. 

“In fact, on the night of 22 October 2025, three terrorists were arrested as they were trying to sneak a huge quantity of explosives into Garoua, obviously to carry out terrorist attacks under post-electoral tensions masterminded by some irresponsible political leaders,” the minister disclosed. 

He said the planned modus operandi of those arrested was to infiltrate groups of protesters and commit terrorist attacks, leading to loss of human lives, which will later be attributed to the forces of law and order. 

He further disclosed that during a street protest organised by a group of drugged individuals proclaiming the so-called victory of the self-acclaimed president in Yaounde last Tuesday, a representative of the politician was arrested among the demonstrators with “an automatic pistol, ammunition, and a large sum of money”. 

Such an individual, the minister said, could have opened fire on the crowd for the act to be blamed on the security forces. 

The strategy, he added, was recently proven during an illegal manifestation organised in Garoua, on October 21, 2025, by sympathisers of the self-proclaimed President of the Republic.

“Notably, the case of the tragic death of Madam Zouhaira Hassana, teacher at the Poumpomre Arabic primary school, which was maliciously attributed to the forces of law and order by a bought-over media of the rebellious movement, whereas the father of the deceased clearly stated that she had been savagely assassinated by a civilian,” the minister revealed, adding that a criminal investigation has been opened to identify the culprits.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3607 of Monday October 26, 2025