A new tragedy linked to the phenomenon of children in conflict with the law has shaken Bouaké. On the night of October 31, 2025, Coulibaly Papa, a 5th-grade student at the Sounkalo municipal high school, was fatally attacked with a machete by a group of young delinquents commonly known as "microbes".

The incident occurred in the Kôkô neighborhood. According to witnesses, the victim, who was outside his home, was ambushed by a group of teenagers armed with machetes. As he tried to return to his yard, the young boy was caught and forced to take refuge inside. The assailants then attacked him, leaving him unconscious in a pool of blood before fleeing.

Rushed to the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Bouaké, Coulibaly Papa was placed under observation awaiting surgery. Despite the medical staff's efforts, he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, November 1st. He was buried on Monday, November 3rd.

Two of the attackers were apprehended the following morning by law enforcement, according to local security sources. Authorities commended the police for their swift action while urging the public to remain vigilant and cooperate closely with law enforcement.

This tragedy comes just months after the death of Konaté Lamine, another young man, who was seriously injured in similar circumstances on June 22nd in Bouaké. The phenomenon of "microbes," also known as "winzins" in the region, is reaching alarming proportions in the capital of the Gbêkê province. Several neighborhoods, such as Kôkô, Dar-Es-Salem, Zone, Soukoura, and Belleville, are now cited among the areas most affected by this urban violence.