Authorities in the West Region of Cameroon say they have arrested a man who escaped from the hospital. They said he was a serious threats to the population. 23-year-old Nosso Clifford escaped from the Bafoussam Regional Hospital in the early hours of Saturday, February 8, 2025. He had been receiving treatment for rabies. The arrest was made after a manhunt was launched on February 8.
Before Clifford’s arrest, he reportedly stole a dog, ate it, and eventually got infected with rabies. But prison authorities only noticed his health condition while he was in detention.
Awa Fonka Augustine, the Governor of the West Region, announced that Clifford, who was previously held at the Bafoussam Central Prison for dog theft, has been hospitalized since January 10, 2025, “for treatment of human rabies.”
“Doctors considered his condition highly dangerous because he exhibited aggressive behavior, hypersalivation, and even barked like a rabid dog,” the governor noted.
Risk to the Public
The governor also warned that Clifford’s physical interactions posed a significant health risk to anyone who came into contact with him.
Clifford is a “dark-skinned fugitive who stands about 1.75 meters tall and speaks English. He has a history of frenzied outbursts, which makes him unpredictable and extremely dangerous,” authorities described when a manhunt was launched.
Following intense search efforts, gendarmerie officers successfully apprehended Clifford on Sunday, February 9, 2025. According to security sources, it was a real belle getting him he ran more than they could have imagined.
Authorities took him into custody and placed him under strict medical supervision.
Concerns persist about why authorities did not initially release the fugitive’s photo to aid in his identification. Many also express scepticism regarding the potential transmission of the disease.
Clifford is back in custody, and health officials will continue his treatment to cut the chain of transmission.
