A man was arrested in Logpom, in the 5th arrondissement of Douala, on suspicion of attempted assault on a 10-year-old girl. The incident occurred this Monday when the young victim was going to a water point near her family home.
According to the family's account, the individual approached the child by asking her personal questions and suggesting a meeting in the evening, raising the family's concern. The girl immediately reported the incident to her mother, revealing that this was not the first time this man had approached her.
Faced with the seriousness of the situation, the victim's older sister took the initiative to search for the suspect in the neighborhood and managed to locate him. An altercation broke out between the sister and the individual, and the scene was filmed by witnesses. The video, widely circulated, alerted public opinion and led to police intervention.
Law enforcement quickly apprehended the suspect and opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the facts and verify whether there are other potential victims. The family's responsiveness was praised by residents of the neighborhood, which allowed for a rapid police intervention.
Cameroonian laws are clear on child protection. Article 296 of the Penal Code provides for sentences of 15 to 20 years in prison for rape, with increased penalties when victims are children. The 2011 Child Protection Act specifically criminalizes all forms of child exploitation. In 2023, a charter on child online protection was established. Despite these legal protections, violence and exploitation of children remains a major problem in Cameroon. According to UNICEF, violence, abuse and exploitation occur most often in the home, at school and in the community.
