Gabonese President Denounces Vigilante Violence After Social Media Rumors
Libreville saw widespread violence as mobs barricaded roadways and searched cars on January 24 in connection with rumors of kidnappings. (Flickr)
Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba sharply criticized the violent extrajudicial killings that took place in Libreville on January 24 after rumors surrounding an alleged wave of child kidnappings.
The unrest was initially sparked by the January 12 disappearance of a child near the northern city of Bitam. Subsequent investigations blame the chaos on rumors, such as a video posted on social media in which two women falsely claimed that another kidnapping had occurred. Soon thereafter, rumors began to spread rapidly through social media with others making similarly unfounded public claims of kidnapping.
Rumors and uncertainty suddenly morphed into violence on January 23 as crowds began to block roads and search passing vehicles. The next day, the situation further deteriorated as cars were lit aflame and drivers were baselessly accused of kidnappings by angry mobs. It was in this violence that two men were ultimately killed by vigilantes. Gervais Patrick Eyeghe Obame, a government employee, died in the hospital after being stoned to death after he tried to pick up his daughter from a local school.
Ondimba’s spokesperson, Jessye Ella Ekogha, denied the existence of further kidnappings and decried social media for the rapid propagation of the unfounded rumors. Ten people involved in the January 24 violence are wanted by Gabon’s national police force for their role in the spread of violence. As many as 17 people have allegedly already been detained in connection to the event.