Two men were killed in Leboudi, a village in the Centre Region of Cameroon when an enraged mob lynched them for allegedly stealing a bag of cassava.
The identities of the victims remain unknown, but a video capturing the horrifying incident has gone viral. The mob, comprised of locals, subjected the accused individuals to a brutal and deadly beating, all while the broader community looked on.
The disturbing footage shows the two thieves pleading for help amid relentless blows to their bodies. The severity of the punishment has sparked a range of reactions within the community.
While some onlookers expressed disapproval of the criminals’ actions, there was widespread condemnation of the extreme violence that led to the loss of lives. William Raph, reflecting on the incident, remarked, “We could limit ourselves to giving them a good correction, not to the point of killing them. They are human beings; we don’t give them the chance to question themselves. They could have been better people tomorrow.”
Others hypothesized that the two people might have turned to theft out of desperation due to hunger. “Surely, due to famine, we leave the real bandits to kill those who are hungry,” lamented a resident named Blessing.
Amidst the debates over the mob’s actions, some voices have called for justice. Critics contend that law enforcement should swiftly apprehend and prosecute those who committed the lynching. “They will be prosecuted,” asserted Mobinhio Elvis.
This incident is not an isolated case in the region. In July 2022, MMI reported another instance where a man named Paulo was arrested in Nkongsamba for specialising in the theft of corrugated roofing sheets. Paulo, when questioned, offered an unusual explanation for his presence on the roof, claiming he was merely harvesting mangoes when a stone he threw accidentally landed on the roof, prompting him to climb up to retrieve it.
