Army Rescue Chief Thanks Community For Help In Recovering Drowned Boy's Body, Warns People To Watchout When It Rains

L-R: Army Rescue Unit Boss, Cross Section Of Population Where The Corpse Was Found

By Raymond Dingana

Taku Paul, the head of the Army Rescue Unit in the North West Region of Cameroon, praised the cooperation between his team and the local community. This teamwork helped recover the body of 25-year-old Agyingi Hamlet, who drowned in a stream on Sonack Street in Bamenda.

Taku made this statement after Agyingi's body was found in Mulang, a day after he drowned on September 29, 2025.

"I want to thank the community for their support. This shows they care. Thanks to our joint efforts, we were able to recover the victim's body, about 18 kilometers from where he fell,"

 Taku said.

Agyingi's Body Stocked In Mud

He noted that the search took about 35 minutes.

"Two teams were involved in the search. One team searched from City Chemist to the Presbyterian Church bridge, while the other team searched from there to the Army Rescue bridge. We received a call that the body had been found, and we rushed to help clean it, as it was covered in mud."

Taku Paul Advises the Community to Stay Indoors When It Rains

To reduce the number of drownings in Bamenda, Taku Paul urged people to be careful. He said,

 "It's better to stay inside when it rains; don't go out."

He added,

 "Just two weeks ago, we recovered two bodies from the water after they drowned, and now it’s Hamlet."

How Agyingi Hamlet Drowned in a Stream on Sonack Street

On Monday,Agyingi Hamlet, a 25-year-old shoe mender from Oshie, Momo Division of the North West Region of Cameroon, left home for work in Bamenda, not knowing he would never return alive. 

While trying to cross a flooded bridge at Sonack Street, Bamenda, Hamlet was swept away by strong currents. Bystanders, instead of helping, were filming and commenting on the situation.

Agyingi's Last Day On Earth, The Day He Drowned 

Hamlet and a colleague decided to cross the stream on a slippery water pipe instead of the bridge because the bridge had been flooded. As they reached the middle of the pipe, they realized they were in danger. 

A brave young man attempted to rescue them, but the powerful water overwhelmed them, causing Hamlet to fall. One victim managed to grab onto a wall, but Hamlet was swept away.

That night, Hamlet's family and friends, worried about his safety, joined forces with the Army rescue unit to search for him. Their teamwork paid off, and Hamlet's body was found in Mulang.

Authorities visited the scene to assess the situation, and preparations were made for his burial. The people of Bamenda have been warned to stay alert as more rain and floods are expected in the coming weeks.