Yaounde: Ministers sympathise with family of murdered six-year-old.

She was accompanied to the residence Thursday, May 22, by the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Madeleine Tchuente, and the Secretary of State to the Minister of Basic Education, Viviane Asheri Kilo.

The minister and her delegation, during the visit, offered words of comfort and pledged government’s support to the bereaved family.

According to the Prof Abena Ondoa, she visited to convey the heartfelt condolences of President Paul Biya and pledge government’s support as the family is going through grief.

She equally expressed the State’s compassion on behalf of “mothers across the nation” who share in the family’s anguish.

“I came with mothers to visit this family to present the government’s sympathy as well as the heartfelt condolences of the Head of State,” Minister Abena Ondoa stated.

“We equally want to pray that the Lord fortifies the parents and the entire family with the necessary strength to overcome this difficult moment,” she remarked. She noted that no family should endure such loss, urging parents to protect their children.

Speaking to reporters after the visit, the family’s lawyer, Barrister Magloire Désolite Piendjio, confirmed that judicial authorities have been duly informed and are handling the case.

“We have confidence in the judiciary of our country. The judges are doing their job, and lawyers are doing theirs. We trust that a thorough investigation will lead to accountability,” Barrister Piendjio stated. 

It should be recalled that the little Mathis Nathaniel Ouandji died after reportedly being stabbed several times by a neighbour, Nwafo Dagobert. This was in the Ngoa-Ekele neighbourhood on Saturday, May 10.

According to sources close to the family, the incident stemmed from a dispute at a local bar between the deceased’s father, Paulin Ouandji, and his friend, Nwafo Dagobert.

We gathered that after brutal exchanges at the bar, Nwafo is said to have returned to attack the children of his neighbour. Sources say Nwafo, upon arriving the neighhour’s home, told the children that he had come to kill them. They are said to have escaped, leaving the youngest behind. 

The alleged perpetrator is said to have slashed the arm of the little boy before attempting to escape. He is said to have been caught by the population and manhandled before security officers rescued him. Little Mathis was later confirmed dead by medics at the Yaounde Military Hospital.

Meanwhile, the accused, Nwafo, was later rushed to a hospital and after regaining consciousness, he was detained and later presented before judicial authorities. Unconfirmed reports hold that he had regained consciousness and claimed he has no memory of the May 10 incident. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3456 of Monday May 26, 2025