Fru Ndi’s herdsman butchered in a dispute

Bouba Abdou, a herdsman, was reportedly butchered to death by one Joseph Abah Mua, a neighbor on Saturday, February 28. This gruesome incident occurred in Ngoh, a village in Menchum division.

Bouba’s killing according to an eye witness accounts resulted from an quarrel between the two. We gathered that the genesis of the scuffle had to do with Joseph Abah getting enraged over the fact that the victim’s fowl had soiled the footpath leading to his residence.

He then stormed Bouba’s residence with a machete which he used in chopping him to death.

Wum Gendarmerie officers who arrived at the scene after a tip-off, we gathered, didn’t find it easy either, getting Abah under arrest. He was allegedly in a festive mood when the police arrived. He threatened more havoc if provoked.

In the battle that ensued between him and the victim, he reportedly injured several other neighbours who had come to assuage his wrath and to rescue the herdsman from his attack.

One of the neighbours sustained wounds on the head. He is also said to have resisted several bullets fired at him by the police.

A source told the Journal that it was not until after the ninth shot that Abah fell to the ground.

His record shows that he is a hardened criminal who has been to prison several times, but has always made his way out each time he was jailed. He is said to be a serial rapist who even attempted to rape his own mother before she narrowly escaped to the South West.

SDF Member of Parliament for Menchum North, Ndong Larry Hills has strongly condemned the act in very strong terms.

Meanwhile, SDF chairman, John Fru Ndi was not present in town, but his security guards were spotted around Bouba’s hut, where the incident took place. They reportedly took the late herdsman’s wife and children out of the area for security.

Karimo, the deceased’s wife who first witnessed the incident when it escalated, said; “I was about going to the stream to do some laundry when I saw my husband quarrelling with him. Joseph Abah however left for Befang Market after the quarrel. I thought it was all over but while on my way to the stream, I suddenly heard people shouting. I came back only to find my husband lying in a pool of blood.”

She lamented, “We don’t have any boundary issue with him. His house is right up there… We have eight children, how am I going to survive with these children.

We are peasants, how do I feed these children? My parents live in Ndu and those of my husband are in Misaje.” Karimo said weeping.