Forceful Disappearance in Bamenda, Conscience Africaine, an NGO, calls for accountability and urgent action in Cameroon
The ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon’s North-West and South-West regions continues to exact a heavy toll on civilian populations, with reports of grave human rights violations persisting despite repeated national and international appeals for restraint and accountability. One such alarming case is the alleged enforced disappearance of Tih Akumbu Joseph, a 23-year-old commercial motorcycle rider, whose fate remains unknown since March 3, 2026.
According to credible sources as revealed by Conscience Africaine, Joseph was last seen at a gendarmerie checkpoint at Banshe entrance in Bamenda, North-West Region. On that day, he had reportedly left Babanki-Ketingoh in Turbah Subdivision, transporting vegetables and tomatoes to Bamenda. Eyewitnesses allege that he was intercepted by gendarmes at the checkpoint, where he was asked to provide an informal payment described as “settlement.”
As reported by Conscience Africaine, a nongovernmental organization in Cameroon, When he was unable to comply, Joseph was allegedly taken away by security forces in a pickup vehicle, despite visible protests from fellow motorcycle riders present at the scene. Since then, there has been no trace of him. His phone has remained unreachable, and neither his motorcycle nor the goods he was transporting have been recovered.
Efforts by Joseph’s family and friends to locate him have so far yielded no results. Searches conducted across multiple detention facilities in Bamenda, including judicial police units, gendarmerie brigades, and other security installations, have not provided any information regarding his whereabouts. Formal complaints have been lodged with the relevant authorities, yet no official response has been issued.
In the absence of credible information, fears are mounting. Some reports suggest that Joseph may have been subjected to extrajudicial execution or is being held incommunicado in an undisclosed detention facility, potentially undergoing torture or other forms of inhumane treatment. These allegations, while unverified, align with a troubling pattern of reported abuses in the conflict-affected regions.
The case of Tih Akumbu Joseph underscores broader concerns regarding enforced disappearances and the culture of impunity that continues to characterize the conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions. For over nine years, civilians have found themselves caught between warring parties, often bearing the brunt of violence, arbitrary arrests, and human rights violations.
Despite ongoing advocacy by civil society organizations and international human rights bodies, meaningful accountability has remained elusive. The absence of prompt, transparent investigations into such incidents only deepens public mistrust and perpetuates a cycle of abuse.
In response to this disturbing development, Conscience Africaine has strongly condemned the alleged disappearance of Tih Akumbu Joseph and issued the following calls:
- Immediate Investigation: Authorities must urgently initiate an independent and transparent investigation to establish Joseph’s whereabouts and ensure his safe release if he is in custody.
- Accountability: Any individuals found responsible must be held accountable in accordance with national and international legal standards.
- End to Impunity: There must be a decisive effort to address the systemic impunity that enables such violations to persist.
- Respect for Human Rights: All parties to the conflict must adhere strictly to international human rights and humanitarian law.
- Inclusive Dialogue: A genuine, inclusive, and sincere dialogue process is essential to resolving the protracted conflict and preventing further suffering.
The disappearance of Tih Akumbu Joseph is not an isolated incident but part of a broader humanitarian and human rights crisis that demands urgent attention. As families continue to search for their loved ones and communities live in fear, the need for justice, transparency, and lasting peace in Cameroon has never been more pressing.
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Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
