An act of unspeakable violence has shaken the town of Baloum (Penka Michel district, Western region). Stève Achille Diffo, a metalworker in his early twenties, was brutally executed after being accused of stealing sheet metal, without any evidence or trial. Given the gravity of the crime, the victim's family has filed a complaint against the community chief and several other suspects.

Timeline of a public lynching

On Friday, June 5th, Stève Achille Diffo traveled to Baloum at the invitation of a friend. Once there, the situation took a dramatic turn:

1. The accusation: He and his friend are accused of attempting to dismantle the corrugated iron roof of a local private primary school. Despite the two young men's protests of innocence, tensions rise.
2. The illegal arrest: A group of local youths apprehend Steve without any warrant or judicial authority.
3. The ordeal at the chiefdom: Tied up, the young man suffered inhumane treatment within the 2nd degree chiefdom itself, under the eyes of the paramount chief, Charly Constant Noussi.
4. The execution: Dragged through the streets, the young man's skull was smashed with stones. His executioners then burned him alive using tires and gasoline, as evidenced by amateur footage showing his charred body.

A legal battle has begun

Refusing to let this crime go unpunished, the victim's family has filed a complaint with the public prosecutor at the courts of Dschang and Menoua. The complaints directly target the paramount chief of Baloum as well as those actively involved in this punitive expedition.

The charges brought against him are: Murder, complicity in murder, kidnapping, torture, failure to assist a person in danger, destruction of evidence, desecration of a corpse and criminal association.

Public opinion demands justice

The case has triggered shockwaves and widespread outrage, particularly on social media. In a region where traditional authorities wield considerable influence, the population fears pressure to suppress the affair.

Many voices are calling for exemplary sanctions from administrative and judicial authorities. The objective is twofold: to severely condemn the traditional chief and his accomplices for this cruelty, and to send a strong message against mob justice in Cameroon.