A soldier with the Cameroonian army is now behind bars as the prime suspect to the suspicious death of 23-year-old TikToker, Merveille Mbella, in Yaounde last weekend.
The soldier is currently detained at the Yaounde I Gendarmerie Company as authorities probe into the potential drug overdose case, according to the state-owned daily, Cameroon Tribune.
Merveille Mbella, a part-time TikToker, died in the early hours of Saturday, August 9, after a night that began innocently but took a tragic turn.
Initial reports, cited by Cameroon Tribune, suggest the young woman suffered a drug overdose at a private residence, though an autopsy is pending to confirm the cause.
The suspect, a soldier, was arrested after the incident was reported to law enforcement.
According to a source close to the investigation, the sequence of events began on the afternoon of Friday, August 8, when the soldier visited the beauty parlor owned by Mbella’s mother for aesthetic services.
Mbella, who often assisted her mother, was present during the visit. After the session ended around 8:00 pm, the soldier offered to drive the mother and daughter home, a proposal they accepted.
On their way, they stopped to purchase items for Merveille Mbella’s child before continuing to their residence.
Upon arrival, Mbella mentioned feeling hungry, prompting the soldier, who owns a restaurant in Bastos, to suggest a meal there.
After dining, the two ended up at the soldier’s home, where things took another turn.
“Contrary to rumors circulating on social media, the victim was not raped. She consumed drugs, likely a hard substance, and her body couldn’t handle it,” Cameroon Tribune reported.
She began feeling ill, and the suspect took her to Clinique Le Jourdain, where she was pronounced dead.
The hospital alerted the authorities, leading to the soldier’s arrest. Cameroon Tribune confirmed that Mbella’s body was transferred to the morgue at Yaounde Central Hospital.
The investigation, ongoing at the Yaounde I Gendarmerie Company, aims to establish the exact circumstances of her death, including the source of the drugs and the soldier’s role.
The case sparked outrage online, with many questioning the soldier’s actions and the broader implications for safety in private interactions.
Mbella’s death has also drawn attention to the challenges of drug abuse among young Cameroonians, a topic that has gained traction in recent times.
