A 38-year-old woman, identified only as Catherine, is currently in custody at the Buea Central Prison after allegedly confessing to poisoning her 13-year-old stepdaughter.
In a statement to the Limbe 1 Gendarmerie brigade, Catherine admitted to lacing her stepdaughter’s meal with a toxic substance known as Mocap. She explained that the poisoning was motivated by escalating tensions between her and her husband, exacerbated by the girl’s behavior.
“She doesn’t respect me as a mother and causes constant fights between my husband and me. I regret using the poison on her—it was the devil’s doing. Please forgive me,” she told authorities.
Testimonies
The landlord, Job Bekondo, discovered the young girl in distress, rolling on the ground with foam coming from her mouth.
“I was at home when I heard a loud cry from my tenant’s house. When I rushed over, I found the young girl convulsing on the floor. Foam was coming from her mouth. I immediately called some neighbors, and together we rushed her to the hospital. Thanks to prompt medical care, she was saved,” Job recounted.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents of Towe quarters in Livanda village, Limbe 1 subdivision. Many have called on the local traditional council to banish Catherine from the community, describing her as a dangerous individual unfit to live among them.
