Anicet Ekane, a Cameroonian opposition politician arrested for protesting against Paul Biya’s controversial reelection in October, has died in detention.

Mr Ekane died in detention five weeks after he was arrested by the Biya-led government.

His death was announced in a statement by his African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (Manidem) party on Monday.

“We have no clarification. His wife had been called to come and when she found herself there, she was just presented the corpse of her husband,” the party spokesman said.

Mr Ekane, 74, was one of the opposition figures who endorsed Issa Tchiroma Bakary in October’s presidential election. Mr Bakary had declared himself winner of the election before the electoral umpire declared Mr Biya the winner.

Cameroon’s defence ministry spokesman, Capt Cyrille Serge Atonfack, said Mr Ekane died from illness.

“The deceased, who suffered from various chronic pathologies, had been interned at the Military Medical Centre of the National Gendarmerie,” Mr Atonfack said.

He claimed the deceased opposition politician was given good medical care since he was arrested on 24 October.