Cameroon’s Minister of Women Empowerment and the Family, Marie Thérèse Abena Ondoa, has become the first government official to react to the disturbing case of sexual abuse involving Douala-based businessman Herve Bopda.
Hervé Bopda, an economic operator, has faced accusations of sexually abusing close to 100 men and women in Douala, the economic capital city of Cameroon.
Mrs Abena Ondoa responded swiftly with a communique signed on January 26, condemning the reported actions of Bopda.
The Minister acknowledged that Bopda has been accused of engaging in “practices of harassment, kidnapping, threats with the use of a firearm, and rape” based on numerous testimonies.
“More seriously, some complainants mentioned the fact that the above-mentioned person would be infected with HIV AIDS and would be working to spread it both among women and children, particularly little boys,” the Minister said.
Herve Bopda was first exposed last week by Cameroonian journalist and social media influencer, Nzui Manto.
Manto accused him of operating a network of predators specialized in raping young girls and women.
The revelations also featured testimonies of alleged victims of Bopda, some of who claimed he kidnapped and raped them severally.
The revelations sparked reactions across the nation, with celebrities, politicians and the Cameroon Bar wading in to call for justice.
Expressing her concern and commitment to justice, Minister Abena Ondoa called on the judicial authorities in the Littoral region to promptly initiate an investigation to bring more clarity to the unfolding situation.
Pending legal proceedings, Madame Abena Ondoa urged all victims to reach out to the decentralized services of the Ministry for “urgent and free support.”
“It also encourages all victims to break the silence to break the chain of violence, and to provide the judicial authorities with the elements necessary to conduct procedures intended to establish the materiality of the facts and, where appropriate, to convict the perpetrators. these heinous crimes,” the Minister’s release stated.
The Minister reassured all victims of gender-based violence of her unwavering commitment and complete readiness to vigorously combat the phenomenon of violence against women and children in the country.
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