By Olive Metuge, October 23, 2024
Douala – Renowned Cameroonian musician Longue Longue has set off a wave of shock and indignation after sharing a deeply disturbing video of himself in a torture session on his social media platforms. The video, which quickly went viral, shows himself being brutally beaten and humiliated by a group of unidentified Cameroon security officers.
The video shows Longue Longue tied up and defenseless as several security officers, whose faces remain obscured, repeatedly hit him with sticks, machetes, and other objects. Throughout the ordeal, Longue Longue is heard crying out in pain uncontrollably, while his torturers hurl insults and accusations at him. The precise context of the torture, including the reason, remains unclear. But he threw light on the incident, stating that the video was recorded sometime in 2019 after he composed songs deemed critical of the Paul Biya’s regime in Yaoundé.
As the video circulated online, many social media users expressed their horror at the violent scenes, and some even criticized Longue Longue for sharing such graphic content without warning. Some accused the artist of using the video to gain attention, while others speculated about the possible message he intended to convey by posting the footage.
Longue Longue, known for his outspokenness on political and social issues in Cameroon, defended his decision to share the video. In a follow-up statement, he explained that his purpose was to raise awareness about the ongoing issue of torture and human rights abuses in Cameroon, particularly as evidence of what transpired when he was arrested in 2019.
“I shared this video to shed light on the brutal reality that many of our people are enduring every day. Torture is real, and we cannot remain silent in the face of such atrocities,” Longue Longue stated in a social media broadcast, urging his followers to advocate for justice and human dignity. He further called on authorities to investigate the incident depicted in the video.
