A man believed to be in his early 40s is currently in critical condition at the Mbingo Annex Hospital after being found severely beaten along the road near the Public Security Post in Santa on May 21. The victim, a father of four and resident farmer in the Santa area of Cameroon’s Northwest Region, was reportedly last seen the previous day.
According to close sources, the man had gone to his farm on May 20 and returned around 4:00 p.m. Later that evening, he reportedly left for the local ceremonial grounds known as “the squares.” He was discovered the next morning with visible injuries, including wounds to his feet and head. “He seemed to have been beaten on his feet and on the head,” a witness at the scene told reporters.
The identity of the attackers and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. No group has claimed responsibility, and the motive is still unknown. Authorities are reportedly awaiting the victim’s recovery in hopes that he will be able to provide critical information that could aid investigations.
This incident adds to the ongoing challenges of insecurity in Cameroon’s Northwest Region, an area that has seen persistent unrest since the Anglophone crisis escalated in late 2016. The conflict, which began as peaceful protests by English-speaking lawyers and teachers demanding reforms, has evolved into a prolonged armed struggle involving separatist groups and security forces. Civilians have frequently borne the brunt of the violence, facing abductions, killings, and assaults.
Local residents continue to deal with a fragile security situation that hampers daily life, especially in rural communities like Santa, where access to justice and protection remains limited.
As of now, no official statement has been issued by local authorities. Medical personnel at Mbingo Annex Hospital have not released any information regarding the man’s prognosis. Community members hope that the perpetrators will be identified and held accountable as soon as the victim is able to speak.
