A 32-year-old mother identified as Victory is currently in police custody in Buea, South West Region of Cameroon, for allegedly torturing her seven-year-old daughter to death.
The tragic case of domestic violence and child abuse has sparked outrage and renewed concerns about child abuse in the country.
According to CRTV South West, the accused admitted to physically assaulting her daughter, Shama Bright, but claimed her intention was disciplinary and not to cause death.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, June 23, 2025.
Sources say the mother beat the child for nearly 30 minutes, allegedly as punishment for “defecating in the wrong place” and for being “stubborn.”
CRTV reports that after realizing the child had stopped responding, she rushed her to a nearby clinic.
Shama was then referred to the Buea Regional Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. Her body is currently at the hospital mortuary.
Police investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of death.
Authorities say Victory will remain in custody as the investigation continues.
Rising Cases of Child Killings in Cameroon
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of child abuse and killings reported across Cameroon in recent months.
Last month, authorities in Yaoundé arrested a father for allegedly killing his underage child. A mother and her elder son in Douala face accusations of murdering a girl child in their care.
The Buea case is particularly disturbing, given the age of the victim and the severity of the alleged abuse.
Human rights advocates and child protection groups have condemned the rising trend and are calling for stricter enforcement of child protection laws.
As this is a developing story, further updates will be provided as more information becomes available from official sources.
