Court sentences ENAM graduate to death for killing mother.

The ruling comes over two years after the incident happened in April 2024. Then, Batek was accused of killing, dismembering and later dumping the body of his mother, in a nearby river at the Etoa-Meki neighbourhood in Yaounde.

The victim, Sylvie Louisette Ngo Yebel Founga, worked as a communication expert at the Central African Forest Commission, COMIFAC. 

She was also known by her colleagues as a communication professional who had worked in the area of environmental protection and forest management.

According to reports, the incident happened on April 6, 2024, at Landry’s home at the Damas neighbourhood. The mother is reported to have gone to visit her son after which an argument reportedly erupted.

According to investigation, Batek later suffocated his mother. He is said to have bought a hacksaw, which he used to cut his mother’s body into pieces. 

He put the dismembered body parts in travel bags before transporting them to Etoa-Meki and dumping them in a river.

The remains were discovered the following day, leading to an investigation by security forces. Batek was later arrested as the main suspect.

During investigation, he reportedly confessed to killing his mother. He is also said to have told investigators that he was being controlled by evil spirits and that he did not understand what he was doing at the time.

Batek is also reported to have confessed to killing his maternal grandmother in November 2023, about five months before killing his mother.

By Claire Ajua, Journalism student on internship 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3884 of Thursday August 20, 2026