Gendarme kills young girl in Santchou
A gendarme officer in Santchou, in the West Region of Cameroon, opened fire on a vehicle, killing a young man who was a passenger. This latest tragedy has reignited tensions in the region, which is already grappling with several deaths from road accidents.
Eyewitnesses say the gendarme asked for papers for the bicycle on the bus. The driver started the vehicle to leave.
The gendarme shot and the bullet went through the windscreen, lodging in the head of the teenager, who died instantly.
It happened at the Santchou tollgate. The angry population is presently at the general hospital with the corpse.
Authorities are urging for calm following the shooting, which comes just two years after a similar incident in Buea led to the mob lynching of the responsible officer.
Details surrounding the Santchou shooting remain unclear. However, local sources report that the gendarme fired upon a vehicle that failed to stop at a checkpoint. The young boy, whose age is estimated to be about 11, was tragically killed in the crossfire.
This event has sparked outrage among the local population. Memories of the Buea incident are fresh, and many fear a pattern of excessive force by security personnel. Protests have erupted, with some demonstrators accusing the gendarmerie of acting out of frustration over a refused bribe.
This is a developing story
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