Fomusoh Ivo Feh, one of the three students arrested by Cameroonian authorities for sharing a Boko Haram joke in 2014 has written an appreciation note to celebrate one month after his release.
After spending more than a year in jail, Feh, alongside Afuh Nivelle Nfor and Azah Levis Gob, who were also students, got 10-year sentences in 2016 for sharing a sarcastic text message about Boko Haram.
READ ALSO: From Alamieyeseigha to Nyako, 5 Ex-Governors Jailed for Corruption Since 1999
“Today marks exactly 1 month after my release from prison. I was arrested in 12/2014 for sharing a Boko Haram joke, sent to prison in 01/2015 and jailed in 11/2016. One month ago, I was freed after 7 long years. Thank you to all who raised their voices for me. I’m free, thanks to you,” said Feh on his Twitter handle.
In December 2014, Feh received a text message from a friend, saying: “Boko Haram recruits young people from 14 years old and above. Conditions for recruitment: 4 subjects at GCE, including religion.”
Finding it hilarious, Feh thought to share it with Afuh Nivelle Nfor, who also found it funny and in turn sent it to Azah Levis Gob.
READ ALSO: ‘Corruption Home and Abroad’ — Knocks for Immigration Over Passport Racketeering
One of their teachers would later see the text, confiscate their phones, and report what he had seen to the police.
Ivo and his friends were all arrested in December 2014 and transferred to prison in Yaoundé on 14 January 2015.
After series of protests all around the world, especially from Amnesty International and other civil liberty organisations, the Supreme Court of Cameroon reduced the students’ jail sentences on December 16, 2021.
Having already spent more than the new jail sentence in prison, Feh and his friends finally regained freedom on December 27, 2021.
Subscribe
Be the first to receive special investigative reports and features in your inbox.