The death of Abdoul Wahabou Ndandjouma, a 36-year-old Cameroonian man, in police custody has triggered outrage and deepened concerns about human rights in Cameroon. Security forces allegedly tortured Ndandjouma before his death on January 17, 2025. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have condemned the incident. His case reflects a broader pattern of abuse targeting political opponents, journalists, and activists.
Authorities arrested Ndandjouma and Mohaman Toukour Nana on January 17 in N’Gaoundéré, Adamawa region. Nana, later released without charges, recalled hearing Ndandjouma scream in agony and beg for medical help. A police commissioner urged authorities to transfer him to a hospital, but they refused. He died in custody. The next day, officials told his family to collect his body. His father, convinced Ndandjouma was healthy before his arrest, demanded an independent investigation. Authorities conducted an autopsy between January 20 and 24 but have not released the results.
This tragedy is not an isolated case. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have reported widespread torture in Cameroon’s detention centers. The United Nations Committee against Torture has warned about the high number of deaths in custody, often linked to torture and medical neglect. These abuses escalate as the government intensifies its crackdown on dissent before elections. In 2024, authorities arrested several activists and journalists, including artist Aboubacar Siddiki (Babadjo), social media activist Junior Ngombe, and Ramon Cotta, who was allegedly tortured after being forcibly disappeared.
The government has also suppressed human rights organizations. In December 2024, it suspended the Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network for three months, further weakening efforts to expose abuses.
Ndandjouma’s death highlights similar violations in Cameroon’s ongoing Anglophone crisis. Since 2016, government forces have engaged in extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detentions against English-speaking separatists and civilians. Security forces continue to target suspected separatist supporters, intensifying the violence. Thousands have fled their homes as international condemnation grows.
Cameroon’s government must conduct transparent, independent investigations into deaths in custody. Ndandjouma’s case demands justice. Without accountability, torture and extrajudicial killings will persist.
Ilaria Allegrozzi of Human Rights Watch warned, “A failure to effectively investigate this case would not just deny justice to Ndandjouma and his family but give a green light to Cameroon’s security forces for further abuse.”
Ndandjouma’s death underscores Cameroon’s worsening human rights crisis. The government’s crackdown on dissent and its handling of the Anglophone crisis continue to erode the rule of law. The international community must demand justice and accountability. Without urgent reform, more lives remain at risk.
Copyright Notice: This article has been rewritten for original analysis and context, based on publicly available reports from Human Rights Watch and other sources.
Related Issues: Ndandjouma’s death and the Anglophone crisis reveal a pattern of unchecked abuse. Global pressure must increase to protect human rights and demand transparency.
