The small town of Batcham, located in western Cameroon, was the scene of a tragic event during a traditional ceremony called a "toqué porte." Twenty-six people were poisoned after eating a taro meal, plunging the Konti neighborhood into shock and fear.
The ceremony, which usually precedes a wedding, turned into a nightmare when several guests began to experience severe discomfort. Vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of consciousness quickly spread among the guests, causing panic and requiring emergency medical intervention.
"It was a terrible scene, people were getting sick one after another, we didn't understand what was happening," said one local resident, still in shock. Faced with the urgency of the situation, 26 people were rushed to various health centers in the area to receive the necessary care.
Local authorities, alerted to the incident, immediately dispatched officers from the Batcham gendarmerie brigade to the scene. An investigation has been opened to determine the exact circumstances of the mass poisoning and to identify those responsible.
According to the initial findings of the investigation, suspicion quickly fell on the woman in charge of preparing the meal. According to local sources, she confessed to investigators that she had introduced a toxic substance into the taro. The motives for this act remain unclear, but investigators are focusing on a possible settling of scores or an act of revenge.
Law enforcement officials recovered the remainder of the product presented as the poison used. Analyses are underway to determine the exact nature of the substance and its level of toxicity. These analyses should also make it possible to establish with certainty the responsibilities in this case, which has deeply shocked the population of Batcham.
"This is a tragic event that reminds us of the importance of vigilance and caution, especially during festive events," said the village chief, calling on the population to remain calm and serene. The investigation continues to shed full light on this case and bring those responsible to justice.
