On May 10, 2025, the country was shaken by a horrific crime: the murder of 6-year-old Mathys Ouandji, who was brutally stabbed by their neighbor, a 47-year-old Dangobert Nwafo, in the Ngoa-Ekelle neighborhood in Yaoundé. The incident sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice.
The case gripped the nation, with many questioning how such violence could occur. Nwafo’s trial revealed a disturbing sequence of events: reports hold that an altercation with the victim’s father led to the deadly revenge attack on the innocent child.
After 10months of court hearings and adjournment, Yesterday March 18 2026, the verdict was handed down at the mfoundi high court. The panel of judges, presided over by Gertrude Ekassi, sentenced Dagobert Nwafo, the sole defendant, to death by firing squad. He was also ordered to pay 500 million CFA francs in damages and 25 million CFA francs in court costs. Though Nwafo’s defense argued he was provoked and acted in a moment of rage, but the court rejected this claim.
The case has sparked intense debate on violence, justice, and child protection in Cameroon. Nwafo’s daughter, local singer Lydol, publicly expressed her shock and grief, meanwhile the government condemned the act and offered support to the victim’s Family.
This tragedy highlights the need for stronger child protection and addressing societal violence.
