I was detained in inhumane conditions- Simon Ateba

I write articles on human trafficking around the world and I've never had any problems.

On August 28, 2015, I was arrested at Minawao camp because, according to the police, I did not have the permission. Yet I had done everything to inform the authorities of my mission.

What steps did you take to acquire permission from officials to facilitate your work?

While in Lagos, I told local journalists that I needed to visit the Minawao camp. They told me I had to meet with the governor (in person) who will give me a special permit for this purpose. I flew from Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday, August 23, 2015, to Ndjamena in Chad and I arrived in Maroua on August 25 in the night because of the poor state of road between Maroua and Kousseri, one of the worst in the world.

August 26 morning, I went to the governor's. He could not meet me but the next day, on the phone, he asked me to go to the communications minister for authorization. I called the Minister.

He put me on hold. I sent messages on his phone to find out when he could receive me or what I had to do; he never replied. I also asked the Colonel Badjeck of Defense. I never got an answer. I went to the UN headquarters for Refugees, UNHCR, and they gave me the information they had.

After a day in Maroua, I decided to see what it was like to camp with almost 50,000 Nigerian refugees and that is where I was arrested.

Why were you accused Cameroonian security services?

The gendarmes said I was a spy in the service of the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, and they kept me in a cell for three nights in totally inhumane conditions.

What were the conditions of your detention?

Terribly inhumane; I got sick and they did not send me to the hospital. They asked me to sweep the office. I slept on the floor with mosquitoes everywhere, and I had nothing to cover me. I'm still sick.

Your work material has he been confiscated?

They confiscated my two phones but gave them back to me when they released me.

How has this mishap inspired you?

Journalism is challenging in Cameroon. Access to information is complicated; the collaboration between the police and journalists is almost nonexistent. The detentions are arbitrary and abuses are everywhere in cells.

In your opinion, does the accreditation procedures established by the Cameroonian government, as part of this war, an obstacle to the freedom of information?

I prefer to say nothing. First I have to be out of Cameroon.