Press statement; For immediate release

Justice for Esther : Lilian dibo foundation (LDF) denounces the brutal rape of a 14-year-old child with mental disabilities and condemns attempts to pervert justice.

KUMBA, CAMEROON, 05 May 2026

In the wake of our ongoing implementation of the Active Disability Alliance for Change (ADAC) Project with the theme; Stop Rape By Reporting, which seeks to protect the most vulnerable( children , women and girls with disabilities) in our society, the Lilian Dibo Foundation (LDF) is compelled to bring to the attention of the global community a harrowing and repulsive case of sexual violence perpetrated against a teenager with mental disabilities.

The Incident

On Saturday, after 1st May 2026, a day the nation celebrated the dignity of labour, a 14-year-old girl named Esther (name used for advocacy), who lives with a mental disability, was brutally violated in her own home. While her father was incapacitated by sleep following the holiday celebrations and her mother was away, a trusted family friend, Lyonga Elvis, a 41-year-old taxi driver, exploited the situation.

Finding Esther alone, Lyonga Elvis subjected her to a horrific sexual assault. The trauma was uncovered when Esther, in her limited but brave capacity, informed her siblings of the "uncle’s " actions. A subsequent medical examination confirmed the rape and infection of a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), leading to a confession by the perpetrator, who is currently in police custody.

The Perversion of Justice

The Lilian Dibo Foundation is deeply alarmed by the secondary victimisation Esther’s family is currently facing:

1. Coercion and Bribery: The family of Lyonga Elvis is currently exerting immense pressure on Esther’s parents to "name their price" and settle the matter through "negotiation". LDF stands firmly with Esther’s parents, who have vehemently refused to trade their daughter’s dignity for money.

2. Institutional Barriers and Corruption: As reported by her mother, we are appalled to report that police officers involved in the case have allegedly requested 10,000 FCFA from the victim’s impoverished mother to "forward the file" to the State Counsel. This is a blatant act of corruption that denies justice to the poor.

3.The Documentation Trap: According to her mother, authorities are attempting to undermine the case based on the absence of Esther’s birth certificate. While her parents had not yet processed this document, the lack of a birth certificate does not negate the physical and psychological reality of the crime, nor does it excuse the perpetrator.

The Victim’s Condition

Since the assault, Esther’s mental health has deteriorated significantly. She is experiencing bouts of extreme aggression, uncontrollable crying, and profound withdrawal. The trauma of this event, compounded by her pre-existing mental disability, requires urgent professional intervention and a guarantee of justice to begin the healing process.

Our Demands

The Lilian Dibo Foundation calls upon the national authorities, human rights organisations, and the global community to:

•Ensure Prosecution: We demand that the legal process proceeds without interference. Rape is a non-negotiable felony under the Cameroon Penal Code. Lyonga Elvis must face the full weight of the law.

• End Judicial Corruption: We call on the hierarchy of the Police and the Ministry of Justice to investigate the demand for "file-forwarding fees" and ensure that poverty is not a barrier to justice.

• Protect the Vulnerable: We urge the state to provide medical and psychological support for Esther and to facilitate the late registration of her birth certificate without using its absence as a tool for victim-blaming.

The Lilian Dibo Foundation remains committed to Breaking the Shackles of Disability. We will not stand by while the rights of children like Esther are auctioned to the highest bidder. We will stop at nothing to ensure that integrity and the rule of law prevail.

Lilian Dibo Eyong

Director

Lilian Dibo Foundation (LDF)

For enquiries:+237672481630 (Lilian Dibo Foundation)

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