AI Demands Release of Students Jailed over Boko Haram Joke

Amnesty International has called for the release of three students sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by a military tribunal in Cameroon, after they shared a joke among each other about the recruitment criteria of Boko Haram extremists.

The three students were found guilty of “non-denunciation of terrorism related information” on November 2, last year.

They have appealed their conviction and sentence. After several delays, the appeal is slated for June 15, according to an Amnesty International statement.

The students, Fomusoh Ivo Feh, Afuh Nivelle Nfor and Azah Levis Gob shared the following text message in November 2014: “Boko Haram recruits young people from 14 years old and above. Conditions for recruitment: 4 subjects at GCE, including religion”.

The message was intended as a comment on the difficulty of finding a good job – even in Boko Haram – without being highly qualified.

The joke was seen by one of the students’ teachers, who confiscated the phone and handed it to authorities. All three were, subsequently, arrested.

According to Amnesty International, they were transferred to the prison in the capital Yaoundé on January 4, 2015 and kept in leg chains for four months.