A disturbing incident of mob justice has sparked debate on domestic violence and community intervention after a group of women in a neighbourhood of Douala, Cameroon, publicly flogged a man accused of persistently abusing his wife.
The man, identified by residents as a habitual wife beater and nicknamed “Father Lion”, was reportedly confronted in the Bojongo area of Bonaberi after neighbours heard his wife screaming during yet another alleged assault.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the women, fed up with repeated cries for help and what they described as the man’s unchecked brutality at home, decided to intervene directly. A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, captures a tense scene as several women armed with sticks surrounded the man.
In the footage, the suspect is seen holding a machete, apparently in an attempt to ward off the women, while issuing warnings for them to keep their distance. His resistance, however, did little to deter the crowd. Moments later, another man arrived at the scene, wrestled the machete from him and reportedly struck him with it.
With the weapon out of his hands, the women intensified the beating, hurling insults as the man retreated in panic and eventually ran into a nearby hut to escape further assault. A voice in the background of the video is heard describing him as unstable, underscoring the heightened emotions surrounding the incident.
While the episode has drawn applause from some quarters as a bold stand against domestic violence, others have expressed concern over the resort to violence and the absence of lawful intervention. Rights advocates note that the incident reflects deep frustration within communities where victims of domestic abuse are perceived to be left without protection.
