MINNEAPOLIS — Two residents of Minnesota have been apprehended and charged with orchestrating and funding a series of violent assaults, which include kidnappings, bombings, and murders, in the Republic of Cameroon.
A federal grand jury has issued an eight-count indictment against Benedict Nwana Kuah, 51, and Pascal Kikishy Wongbi, 52, both of whom are naturalized U.S. citizens originally from Cameroon. The individuals were arrested on Friday morning and made their first court appearances in Minnesota later that same day. Detention hearings are set for the following week.
Federal prosecutors state that Kuah and Wongbi held prominent positions within the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), a separatist militia aiming to create an independent state in western Cameroon. The indictment claims that the two men leveraged their roles to gather funds in the United States, which were subsequently sent to co-conspirators in Cameroon to acquire weapons and execute violent attacks against civilians, government officials, and security personnel.
“The defendants are charged with using the United States as a base of operations to finance and direct kidnappings, bombings, and killings in Cameroon,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their alleged conduct caused death, terror, and suffering among innocent civilians.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson for the District of Minnesota condemned the alleged actions, calling them “an affront to both American law and basic human decency.”
Federal officials report that the violence associated with Kuah and Wongbi has persisted for several years, leaving a path of destruction. Prosecutors claim:
- In 2022, ADF militants abducted a Cameroonian government official and disseminated propaganda videos regarding the kidnapping.
- In 2023, Kuah was allegedly involved in orchestrating an IED attack targeting a regional governor and subsequently funded a bombing during the Mount Cameroon Race for Hope, resulting in injuries to 19 individuals.
- That same year, a commander purportedly appointed by Kuah killed two unarmed civilians in a marketplace, while Wongbi was seen in a propaganda video threatening similar acts of violence.
- In 2024, Kuah is said to have sanctioned and financed a bombing at a Youth Day event, which tragically claimed the life of a 15-year-old girl and injured many others.
The indictment further details how the defendants are accused of generating funds online through initiatives named “The Takeover Fund” and “Operation 200AKs,” aimed at collecting donations for the purchase of assault rifles and explosives. Kuah has appeared in multiple videos urging financial contributions to the armed group.
The allegations against Kuah and Wongbi encompass conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, and harm individuals abroad; conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists; conspiracy to launder money; among other charges. Kuah faces additional accusations related to hostage-taking and the deployment of weapons of mass destruction internationally. If found guilty, both individuals could be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Authorities have stressed that although the violence took place overseas, U.S. law is applicable to those operating from within the country.
“Criminal actors cannot hide in the United States,” said FBI Counterterrorism Assistant Director Donald Holstead. “The FBI will ensure those who engage in or direct violent acts are held accountable.”
As of now, both defendants remain in custody. An indictment is not a conviction; all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
