18-year-old man allegedly commits suicide in Gendarmerie cell

An 18-year-old man in Loum, Moungo Division of the Littoral region has reportedly died in Gendarmerie custody.

He was arrested and kept behind bars on September 10th for allegedly stealing contraband fuel commonly called “zoa-zoa” from his neighbour’s house.

On September 111th, parents of the accused young man visited the Loum Gendarmerie brigade to serve their son food and were informed that their son had committed suicide by hanging.

In shock, the parents are said to have raised an alarming bringing locals to the unit. The protesters accused the gendarmerie elements of killing the detained man and demanded that justice be served. They believe their relative was tortured to death at the detention unit.

The gendarmes have however maintained their version that the man committed suicide by hanging but have failed to explain what pushed the man to choose such an action.

This is not the first time security officials are accused of torturing detained people in Cameroon. On Thursday November 18, 2021, 37-year-old Bertin Nzimo was tortured to near death before being released from cell at the 9th District Police station in the Douala I sub-division. He later died in hospital from the injuries sustained and his mortal remains were paraded at the same station where he had been tortured.

It was later reported that some of the police elements who had tortured Bertin had been suspended.