Journalist and two others burnt alive in the Far North region

On 5 March 2025, three individuals, a journalist-researcher named Frederic Moundi, a professor, and their driver were burnt alive by angry villagers who wrongly accused them of being members of the Boko Haram group. The victims were reportedly conducting fieldwork research when they were wrongly accused of being members of Boko Haram. Powered by anger and fear, the residents did not verify their suspicions before resorting to violence. By the time it dawned on everyone that the three men were nothing of the kind, it was too late. All had been burned beyond recognition.

One of the deceased was a young journalist who was also a researcher in the Ministry of Scientific Research. Their murders add to the growing list of professionals, particularly journalists, killed while carrying out their duties.

The Cameroon Journalists Trade Union (CJTU) has strongly condemned the killings and called on the government to take immediate measures to safeguard journalists. The union indicated that journalists, especially those working in conflict-prone areas, continue to face life-threatening risks without any adequate protection.

In the same statement, CJTU appealed to newsroom managers to put in place and enforce stringent safety protocols, including adequate training and security for reporters in the field. They also appealed to journalists to take extraordinary precautions when reporting on sensitive topics or traveling to risky locations.

ress freedom advocates are calling for stronger measures, including better security for journalists, and most importantly that the perpetrators of such injustice be brought to book and the face the law.

Jungle justice is not the way to stop crime but instead increases violence. As it stands now, three men have been brutally snatched away from their loved ones in this case of mistaken identity and misinformation. It is high time the government acts swiftly and do a good job in sensitising it’s population to prevent another case similar to this one from repeating itself.