Social News Cameroon

Chief Foretia Dies In Detention, He’s The 8th Death in Cameroon Custody In One Month

Detained Chief Foretia of Letia Chiefdom Lebialem has been reported dead early today

Chief Letai was arrested some months ago in Dschang, West Region and transfered to the Yaoundé Central Prison where he has been detained.

The government accused him of sponsoring Ambazonia fighters including the dreaded fighter Field Marshal

It is not clear the exact cause of his death as the government is yet to issue an official statement.

It is alerged that the traditional ruler was killed by the covid-19 virus. He now adds to the list of 8 inmates to have died in the Kondengui prison in Yaounde, within the past one month. Primary reports say he went unconscious few days to his death

Early this month we reported that prison inmates may be worst hit if Covid-19 knocks prison doors

Prison Inmates of Kondengui prison Yaoundé battle with space and congestion

Congested Prison in Yaounde

Within the last four years, more than 3,000 people have been arrested & thrown to prison including journalists, politicians, activists, protesters & civilians caught from the streets and charged for disturbing public order.

Some spent days and were released after a financial deposit of at least 50,000FCFA ($100) while others serve months and years in prison waiting for trail.

The most famous of these prisons are the Buea Central prison & the Kondengui Prison in Yaoundé. Built for 1,500 persons, the Kondengui Prison was created in 1967 with a facility of 16 toilets and 400 beds but now harbours more than twice the initial number.

Inmates are crushed inside disease – ridden cells with no beds, little or no food and less hope, sometimes tortured.

From 23,000 prisoners in 2013, a report by NCHR published in 2018 showed that Cameroon had 31,000 prison inmates. Rights groups also affirm that these prisons suffer from the prevalence of tuberculosis, HIV, AIDS, Cholera & scabies.

And in 2015, it was alerged that one of these prisoners suffocated to death after he was locked up in a 4 metres squared cell with 22 others….

Read More »Chief Foretia Dies In Detention, He’s The 8th Death in Cameroon Custody In One Month

Covid-19: A Grim Landmark As Official Toll In Cameroon Tops 1,000

Cases of coronavirus in Cameroon have officially surpassed one thousand and the epidemic is continuing to climb, officials noted, asking people to stay home and observe the necessary health measures.

As of Tuesday April 22, the nationwide figure was put at 1,163 cases with 331 recovered, 176 hospitalised, 33 under oxygen therapy and 43 deaths.

These were official figures since the Ministry of Health reported Cameroon’s first cases on February 24, 2020. Officials said it was a 58-year old French citizen who arrived in the country and he had since been quarantined.

On Monday, the North West registered its first case, confirmed by governor Adolph Lele l’Afrique

Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health stopped, for 6 days, his daily figure updates on infected cases.

Manaouda Malachie said in a tweet that he was taking a new direction–he would simply publish information on the evolution of the ministry’s strategy, critical cases, recovered cases, deaths and barrier measures only when necessary

The worry is that the pandemic continues to gain grounds in Cameroon, now affecting 9/10 regions

Of the 43 deaths, two have been prominent medical doctors in Douala, a government health official confirmed.

Cameroon stands as one of the hardest hit in Sub-Saharan Africa after South Africa with 3,300 infections and 58 deaths

Other government-arranged plans are ongoing but Cameroonians are worried about their president.

On social media, they are increasingly demanding to hear him speak about the growing outbreak on the soil.

They want to see more concern, just like other presidents have done, sharing the pain and even making daily video appearances.

Read More »Covid-19: A Grim Landmark As Official Toll In Cameroon Tops 1,000

Douala: 3, Stabbed And Killed In Fight Over Covid-19 Distributed Rice

Three persons have been stabbed to death in a fight over bags of rice distributed in Makepe, Douala.

The incident happened on Monday while team workers for football star Samuel Eto’o distributed foodstuffs as part of his support to citizens affected by the covid-19 crisis

Team members of football star Samuel Eto’o distribute foodsfuffs in Douala

The fomer Barcelona champion announced last week, a support scheme through his foundation to 50,000 households in Cameroon by providing foodstuffs, coronavirus kits, soap, detergents and masks in Douala, Buea, Yaoundé and Baffousssam

Witnesses told this reporter the fight was sparked by a bitter quarrel over the donated gifts. Three persons engaged in the fight were stabbed to death before the intervention of security officials.

Other reports earlier said the boys were identified as ‘street children’

Read More »Douala: 3, Stabbed And Killed In Fight Over Covid-19 Distributed Rice

Two Months Later, Govt Stays Mute Over Ngarbuh Massacre

Allegrozzi, the Senior central Africa Researcher at Human Rights Watch, focusing primarily on Cameroon, made the statement in a tweet on Tuesday April 14, 2020.

The former Senior Researcher for Amnesty International, investigating conflict-related abuses in Cameroon tweeted :

“Exactly two months ago military and armed ethnic Fulani killed 21civilians including 13 children and a pregnant woman in Ngarr-buh village North West region”

On February 14, 2020, lovers day, eyewitnesses recounted that soldiers, accompanied by Fulani vigilante group, invaded and carried out massacre on over 35 persons including 14 children and bodies of some victims burnt to ashes.

This claims, have till date been rejected by the government.

Read More »Two Months Later, Govt Stays Mute Over Ngarbuh Massacre