Douala: Three Die from Suspected Food Poisoning, Family Demands Justice

By Synthia Lateu

Ndabakel Fatima, a mother of six, is demanding justice after two of her children, aged seven and ten, along with a 27-year-old close neighbour, died in a suspected case of food poisoning. The tragic incident occurred on Monday evening in Mabanda, Douala.

Fatima’s last surviving son narrowly escaped death after consuming rice and stew prepared at home. Her two sons died shortly after eating the same meal. Overcome with grief, Fatima recounted the harrowing events:

“I asked what was happening but got no response. I took the child and noticed he was almost gone. My hand trembled. With the help of others, we took him to the hospital while they cared for him. Later, I was told my other child was also unwell. I realized that I had been poisoned along with my children,” she said, adding that she too felt stomach pains.

At the family home in Mabanda Block 16, grief and shock are palpable. Sixteen-year-old Ndayou Madina, Fatima’s eldest, who is also recovering, struggles to comprehend how the family meal she helped prepare turned deadly.

“I returned from school on Monday around 5 p.m. My mother was in her shop and asked me to get rice from another shop as usual, take it home, remove the stew from the fridge, and prepare the meal. When she returned, the rice was not yet ready. Later, it was done. I served her and we ate together. My little brothers were with my aunt. When they returned, we served them. Our neighbour also came and we served him,” Madina said.

Everyone who ate the meal experienced stomach pains, but some were treated at the hospital and recovered.

At the scene on Wednesday, the kitchen remains untouched: the remaining food is still on the stove, and the plates used for the meal have not been moved. The 27-year-old neighbour who ate the meal later died. Residents are shocked, noting that the neighbour was a close relative with whom the family often shared meals.

The tragedy drew a large crowd. Amateur footage shows the family in tears as the children’s bodies were transported. Nsangou Daouda, head of Mabanda Block 16, said he struggled to mobilize the population:

“The bodies of the two children arrived first, followed by that of the neighbour. The State Prosecutor came, took pictures, and collected samples of the food,” he said.

An investigation has been opened to determine the exact cause of death. The three deceased have been taken to Bamoun for burial.