Maurice Kamto Demands Justice for Researchers Killed in Far North

Prof Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party, has called for an independent investigation and the prosecution of those who killed two researchers and a motorcycle rider in the Far North Region of Cameroon.

A mob action in Souledé-Roua, in the Mayo-Tsanaga Division, caused the death of Mr Mounsi Frederic, a researcher at the Centre for Geological and Mining Research in Garoua; Dr Bello Bienvenue, a lecturer at the University of Maroua; and a motorcycle rider who was their driver.

The local population allegedly mistook the researchers for militants of Boko Haram, an armed group that has been conducting attacks in the Lake Chad Basin for over a decade.

The three were reportedly carrying out a scientific mission in the locality when they met their ‘untimely’ death. The mob lynched them, tortured and burned them.

“Despite their attempts to explain themselves in front of a rampaging crowd, they were subjected to an ignominious lynching followed by collective immolation,” Maurice Kamto said in press release.

Offering condolences to the families of the deceased, Kamto said that the CRM is “vigilantly following developments in this tragedy, appalled by barbarity of unprecedented cruelty”.

He added: “On behalf of the CRM and on my own behalf, I send our most saddened condolences to their families so sorely tried, and to the scientific community‌ cruelly stricken the expression of my deepest sympathy.”

Maurice Kamto’s Call for Justice

While condemning the cruel action, the opposition leader demanded justice for the victims.

“We urge the judicial authorities to conduct an impartial and exhaustive investigation in order to establish who was responsible for this despicable act, and to rigorously punish the culprits.”

He also urged relevant authorities to take steps to raise awareness and take all other appropriate measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

How it Happened

Local reports say Mounsi Frederic and Bello Bienvenue were on a research mission to a Boko Haram-prone locality in the Far North which they had little knowledge of. They hired a local motorcycle rider to transport them to the village, Souledé-Roua.

Upon arriving there, villagers mistook them for Boko Haram militants who have constantly terrorized communities in the region for over a decade.

Their plea and attempt to dissociate themselves from the armed group were futile.

Together with the motorcycle rider, they were encircled, tortured, dismembered and burned.

The mob action sent shockwaves across the country, raising concerns about rising insecurity and mob justice, an issue that is common across the country.

The government has not officially reacted to the incident amid Maurice Kamto’s call for justice to prevail.