Bonabéri, Cameroon: Man steals underwear from naked‑church congregation

In the Bonabéri district of Douala, Cameroon, 31‑year‑old Dimitri, an aspiring mechatronics engineer with documented mental‑health problems, was taken by relatives to a local church known as the “Grand Hangar.” The congregation holds nightly prayers without wearing any underwear, storing the garments in sealed boxes.

During a night‑time service, Dimitri disappeared along with a cardboard box containing the faithful’s underwear. He was later spotted near a petrol station carrying the box, where police detained him and escorted him back to the church. Two pastors, Paolo and Mérimée, who oversee the services, were also questioned. Authorities are considering possible complaints from husbands whose wives’ undergarments were taken.

The incident has drawn attention to the unconventional practices of the church and raised concerns about the handling of individuals with mental‑health issues in religious settings.