Over ten cases were recorded in several towns between October and December 2013.

Some Cameroonians take the law into their hands by administering mob justice on presumed bandits, most often caught in the act. The number of cases recorded within the past three months, especially in the Littoral and West Regions, is a cause for concern.

Foumban: SDO Cautions Mayor

On December 2, 2013, the population of Foumban, in fury, besieged the Central Police Station demanding that a certain Mama Njoya be released for jungle justice to take its course. They accused the latter of assassinating 55-year old Ibrahim Maloum over the latter’s bike on November 27, 2013.

The uproar the incident caused prompted the Senior Divisional Officer for Noun Division, Donatien Boyomo, to instruct the newly-commissioned Mayor of Foumban, Dr Adamou Ndam Njoya, to sensitise the population on ethical values of citizenship and republican institutions.

Bandjoun: Suspect Burnt To Death

On November 12, 2013, two thieves on a motorbike, used a machete to assault a student, Eric Tamgue Kuate, an electronics technician, Hilarion E, in Bandjoun, Koung-Khi Division of the West Region. The latter’s shouts provoked the arrival of the population. They caught up with one of the runaway thieves, beat him, before setting his body ablaze.

Douala: Thief Killed In Ndogpassi

Some inhabitants of the Ndogpassi neighbourhood in Douala woke up on Wednesday, October 28, 2013 to see the remains of a 25-year old presumed bandit on the main road near the Mental Health Centre. The deceased and his accomplice had been caught stealing at night. He was caught while attempting to run away and beaten to death.

Douala: Soldier Lynched for Attempted Bike Theft

On October 9, 2013, Chief Corporal Benoit B. succumbed to mob justice alongside his accomplice, one Charly, after they were caught allegedly attempting to steal a motorbike which transported both at 3 am from Deido to Ndogpassi 2.

Bandja: Two Pig Thieves Lynched

Two unidentified suspects, in their thirties, were lynched by a population in fury on November 14, 2013 after they presumably stole two pigs, sacks of groundnuts, yam and cocoyam, amongst others, in several residences in Batie, in the West Region. As they came back the next day to collect the rest of the booty, they were arrested by the population and mob justice ensued.

Media reports also record several cases of mob justice in different regions. However, there are few cases of those responsible answering for their acts before the law.