29-04-2025
‘Master of mutilation'; Man charged in Maryland accused of inciting violence against Cameroonians
GAITHERSBURG, Md. () — A federal grand jury in Maryland has indicted a Cameroonian man on charges related to his alleged involvement in the international scheme and crimes unfolding in Cameroon by armed secessionist groups, including the maiming and severing of limbs of civilians in the foreign country.
38-year-old Eric Tataw is a Cameroonian national, also known as 'the Garri Master,' or master of mutilation, according to the United States Department of Justice ().
Tataw was charged with conspiring to provide material support to armed separatist groups in Cameroon and promoting and encouraging the injury or kidnapping of Cameroonian civilians.
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In Cameroon, secessionist groups fight to form a new country called 'Ambazonia.' The armed groups are trying to coerce cooperation from the government by inflicting injuries on the civilian population. These separatist fighters are frequently referred to as 'Amba Boys,' a release states.
As alleged in the indictment, Tataw was a citizen of Cameroon living in Gaithersburg, Md., and was a member of the Cameroonian diaspora with a large social media following. The posts were seen by tens of thousands of viewers.
With his large social media following, Tataw allegedly began in April 2018 to raise money for the group and provide resources, including weapons and personnel, to the 'Amba Boys' in Cameroon.
He is accused of calling for the murder, kidnapping and maiming of Cameroonian civilians as well as those believed to be working for the government.
Tataw and his co-conspirators allegedly directed the maiming of Cameroonian civilians by severing their limbs, a practice Tataw called 'Garriing.' He is also accused of using the phrase 'small Garri' to refer to removing fingers or other small appendages and the phrase 'large Garri' to refer to removing large limbs or killing people.
'The defendant is alleged to have ordered horrific acts of violence, including severing limbs, against Cameroonian civilians in support of a violent secessionist movement,' said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. 'This indictment represents the Justice Department's commitment to hold accountable human rights violators who direct brutal political violence and fundraise for armed militias from the comfort of the United States.'
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A fundraising campaign, known as the 'National AK Campaign,' was designed to arm each 'Amba Boy' in Cameroon with an AK-47 rifle.
Officials noted that from about September 2018 through December 2020, Tataw and his co-conspirators raised more than $110,000.
'Tataw and his co-conspirators masterminded and financially supported a vicious scheme to overthrow a foreign government. They resorted to an unthinkable level of violence while instilling fear in innocent victims to advance their political agenda,' said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland.
If convicted, Tataw faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the material support count and five years in prison on each count of making threatening communications to injure or kidnap.
A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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