A shocking incident unfolded last night at City Chemist Roundabout in Bamenda, located in the North West Region of Cameroon, as a bandit was beaten to near-death while attempting to steal a bike. This led to a brutal act of jungle justice as locals pounced on him, a witness told MMI.
On Thursday, November 9th, 2023, chaos erupted when the thief allegedly stabbed a bike rider in the process of stealing his bike. The injured bike rider has since been admitted to a hospital in Bamenda for treatment, while the assailant faced the wrath of an enraged crowd.
Reports say the angry mob, fueled by a sense of justice and retribution, nearly took matters into their own hands. But security forces intervened just in time to prevent the situation from escalating further. The thief was apprehended and is now in custody.
Community-based, extrajudicial punishment known as “jungle justice” is common in Bamenda and other significant cities across Cameroon. Locals often resort to such actions due to a perceived lack of effective intervention from official authorities in addressing criminal activities.
The incident at City Chemist Roundabout once again brings to light the prevalence of jungle justice in Bamenda. While there has been ongoing advocacy against this form of vigilantism, the latest episode underscores the persistent challenges of curbing such actions.
Sensitization campaigns have been conducted to discourage jungle justice, emphasizing the risks of innocent individuals becoming victims of these spontaneous acts of retribution. As Bamenda grapples with the aftermath of this violent incident, there is a renewed call for strengthened efforts to promote trust in the legal system and discourage the resort to mob justice.
