Umaru, a suspected gang leader from Old Town, Bamenda, met his end in Bali Nyonga after a botched robbery attempt on the night of October 29.
A mob beat him to death, linking him to notorious drug trafficking activities in Old Town and banditry in Bali Nyonga.
Villagers caught Umaru and his gang after they allegedly tried to rob a villager.
Umaru armed himself when the crowd cornered him.
While four of his accomplices escaped into the night, a mob subdued and killed Umaru.
The group descended on the village to steal but caught residents off guard, who had become more vigilant due to previous robberies.
In Old Town, Bamenda, where Umaru lived and frequently worked at a local pharmacy, people held divided opinions about him.
Some knew him as a vendor in the popular pharmacy, while others were aware of his alleged criminal activities.
Residents accused him of stealing livestock, and associated him with recent cattle thefts.
“We shall not relent till we track down all thieves,” said Babila, one of the Bali Nyonga villagers.
Mob justice is common in Cameroon, with citizens frequently taking the law in their hands.
Although the government has tried to discourage the act, people are skeptical about handing persons accused of crimes like robbery to the police, suggesting public distrust in the judicial process.
