A federal grand jury in Baltimore yesterday returned an indictment against Eric Tataw, 38, a Cameroonian national residing in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on charges of conspiring to provide material support to armed separatist militias in Cameroon and threatening violence against Cameroonian civilians.
Tataw, also known as “the Garri Master,” surrendered to authorities and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson today.
According to court documents, Tataw allegedly played a key role in supporting violent secessionist groups operating in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. These groups, often referred to as “Amba Boys,” are actively fighting to establish an independent state called “Ambazonia.”
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The indictment says that these militias have employed brutal tactics, including attacks on the Cameroonian military and intentional targeting of civilians, in their pursuit of secession.
The Justice Department officials strongly condemned the alleged actions. “The defendant is alleged to have ordered horrific acts of violence, including severing limbs, against Cameroonian civilians in support of a violent secessionist movement,” stated 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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Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, echoed this sentiment, asserting, “The Justice Department will not tolerate those who help murder, maim, and kidnap. We will continue to hold accountable those who aim to turn American soil into a staging ground for political violence abroad.”
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland emphasized the severity of the charges, stating, “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. We, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to relentlessly pursuing anyone who attempts to inflict mayhem on others. Tataw and his co-conspirators demonstrated a total disregard for human life so now they must pay the price.”
The indictment alleges that Tataw, a member of the Cameroonian diaspora with a significant social media presence, began in April 2018 to raise funds for the Amba Boys to finance their violent activities. Furthermore, he is accused of using social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to call for the murder, kidnapping, and maiming of civilians, as well as the destruction of public, educational, and cultural property in Cameroon.
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Disturbingly, Tataw allegedly directed the maiming of Cameroonian civilians by severing their limbs, a practice he chillingly referred to as “Garriing.” He reportedly used the terms “small Garri” to denote the removal of fingers or other small appendages and “large Garri” to signify the removal of larger limbs or the killing of individuals. The indictment further alleges that Tataw referred to himself as the “Garri Master,” or master of mutilation.
Tataw and his co-conspirators allegedly targeted individuals believed to be working for or collaborating with the Cameroonian government, including municipal officials, traditional chiefs, and employees of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC). His social media posts, which allegedly numbered in the hundreds, were reportedly viewed by tens of thousands of people, including Amba Boys and their leaders, and were often further disseminated at his direction or encouragement.
Tataw is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support and four counts of interstate communication of a threat to harm. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for the material support count and up to five years in prison for each count of communication of a threat to harm.
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