Elvis Mdempowo is accused of slitting the throats of his girlfriend, her three children, her sister, and a cousin, all of whom were staying with her. He has been apprehended by security forces.
It is not yet clear how many of them carried out the act last Thursday. One of the relatives of the victims, Odette Nguekam, said when she got into the house, she realised the children had put up a fight before they got killed.
“When I was called to come to the house, I got in and saw my children laying there with blood all over. My children had all been killed,” she wept.
The bodies were discovered in precarious conditions. Some of the young woman’s body parts were mutilated, and the other corpses were found in the bedroom, living room, and corridor.
The attackers are believed to have entered her home through the ceiling as locals easily identified it had been ripped off.
Vanessa and the suspect had been in a relationship for five years. The couple had constructed a house for future purposes, but once the relationship ended, they took the case to court to settle ownership.
Relatives of Vanessa say the suspect was angry about the separation. 31-year-old Vanessa and Elvis had a child who was also killed in the attack.
The Centre region of Cameroon is going through a wave of insecurity, with many killed in the last two months.
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.