41-year-old denizen of Bamenda, Ambi Titus Mbuta, is at the centre of a nationwide manhunt after a warrant of arrest was reportedly issued against him in June 2018 by the State Counsel of Mezam, Peter Essongbi Mbuagabaw. The warrant alleges that Titus is a fugitive from justice, accused of serious offences against the State of Cameroon linked to his involvement in separatist activities in the North West Region. According to judicial sources, the State Counsel’s office charged him with bribery, rebellion, and undermining national unity, offences that carry some of the most severe penalties under Cameroonian law.
Authorities allege that Titus bribed prison officials at the Bamenda central prison and court detention facilities, an act that allegedly facilitated his escape from lawful custody. The warrant states that his actions go beyond mere evasion; they constitute an effort to undermine state authority and legal order. The prosecution further accuses Titus of promoting divisive sentiments that threaten the constitutional principle of the unity and indivisibility of the Republic of Cameroon, as outlined in the national constitution. These charges position him not only as a fugitive but as a person who fomented dissent against the state itself.
Security officials report that Titus fled Cameroon shortly after the warrant was issued, heading to an unknown destination that has not yet been confirmed. Prosecutors describe his flight as an aggravating factor that reinforces the allegations against him, suggesting a deliberate refusal to face legal proceedings. The government’s statement on the matter characterises his departure from the country as evidence of guilt and affirms that he remains a person of interest in an ongoing criminal investigation.
In response to his disappearance, law enforcement agencies have launched an extensive manhunt across the country. Security forces are coordinating nationwide efforts to track his movements, with checkpoints and intelligence units alerted to intercept him if he attempts to travel domestically or abroad. Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that he crossed international borders and are seeking cooperation from foreign authorities to determine his exact whereabouts.
If apprehended, Titus faces extremely harsh penalties under current Cameroonian law. Prosecutors have publicly noted that under the 2014 anti-terrorism legislation, charges tied to rebellion, undermining national unity, and related crimes carry the possibility of a life sentence, and in certain cases, the death penalty. These laws, enacted to strengthen the state response to violent and separatist conflicts, have been applied in previous cases involving similar allegations.
Cameroon’s judiciary has a documented history of handing down long prison terms and death penalty sentences in cases regarded as threats to national security. Activists, armed group members, and those accused of supporting separatist movements have faced life imprisonment without parole, and several individuals remain on death penalty rolls, even as appeals and legal challenges proceed. In many instances, detainees convicted under anti-terrorism and national security statutes have seen little opportunity for sentence reduction or early release.
Despite the severity of the allegations and the nationwide search, Titus’s family has publicly denied all charges against him. They describe him as a peaceful activist and insist that he never intended to harm the fabric of the nation. Family representatives have repeatedly stated that the accusations are politically motivated and lack evidence, asserting that he has been mischaracterised by authorities.
Meanwhile, relatives of Titus continue to face intense scrutiny and pressure from security forces. Reports from family members detail repeated raids on their home, physical confrontations with gendarmes and police, and ongoing psychological stress inflicted by repeated interrogations and forced questioning. The family’s account paints a picture of sustained targeting by state forces, even in Titus’s absence. It is alleged that his mother passed away in Limbe while running from the onslaught of security brutality in Bamenda. His wife and children are in Equatorial Guinea, where they seek refuge against physical and psychological attacks from state forces on their inability to provide for Titus
By Lucas Muma
