Jean Michel Nintcheu, a Member of Parliament, has pledged to organize a national funeral in honor of Anicet Ekane, a prominent figure in the Cameroonian opposition who died three months ago while in detention at the SED (State Secretariat for Defense) in Yaoundé.
In a video message released on February 23, 2026, Nintcheu expressed his support for Ekane's family and demanded the return of his body so that he could receive a funeral worthy of his status. "It is with great emotion that I evoke the memory of the great fighter Anissé Ekané, cowardly assassinated on December 1, 2025, by the criminal regime of Mr. Biya," Nintcheu said in the video.
Nintcheu recalled his long history of struggle alongside Ekane, mentioning the ghost towns, the presidential elections of 1992, and the riots of 2008. He also emphasized Ekane's commitment to Professor Kamto's candidacy in the last presidential election, insisting that he had agreed to support this candidacy "without any financial compensation, without any financial requirement".
The MP denounced the rejection of Kamto's candidacy and recalled Ekane's commitment to Issa Tchiroma, whom he considers the winner of the 2025 presidential election. He then launched an appeal to the regime in place: "I would like to ask the regime in place to return without delay the body of Anicet Ekané that it is confiscating".
Nintcheu accused the government of withholding Ekane's body for fear of a massive popular mobilization during his funeral. "I would also like to add that, no matter how long these confiscations, these retentions of bodies take, we will organize national funerals to pay tribute to the fighter Ekané. Because we know that the regime is afraid of the popular mobilization that is around this event. That is why it inhumanely withholds the body of Anicet Ekané," he said.
The death of Anicet Ekane in detention had sparked strong reactions within the Cameroonian opposition and civil society. Several organizations had denounced the conditions of his detention and demanded an independent investigation into the causes of his death. Jean Michel Nintcheu's promise of a national funeral demonstrates the opposition's desire to maintain pressure on the government and pay tribute to a leading figure in the struggle for democracy in Cameroon.
Nintcheu concluded his message by assuring Anicet Ekane's family of his unwavering support in this "battle" for the return of the body and the organization of a dignified funeral.
