‘Master of Mutilation’ from Maryland Indicted for Inciting Violence in Cameroon



U.S. citizen accused of directing secessionist attacks via social media

A Maryland man who called himself the "Master of Mutilation" has been indicted for inciting violence and directing separatist fighters, known as Amba Boys, to carry out mutilations and killings in Cameroon, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Social Media as a Weapon of War

Identified as Erin Tano Tataw, the man used Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to issue commands to separatists in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, instructing them to carry out brutal acts. Prosecutors allege Tataw coined terms like “small Garri” for finger amputations and “large Garri” for killing or dismemberment.

The Justice Department said these posts reached tens of thousands and were part of a larger campaign to support a breakaway region called Ambazonia. Tataw also allegedly ran a fundraising initiative called the National AK Campaign, which raised over $110,000 to arm fighters.

Facing Serious Charges

Tataw surrendered to authorities on April 25, a day after a federal grand jury issued the indictment. He faces:

  • One count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists (up to 15 years),

  • Four counts of interstate threats to harm (up to 5 years each).

Context: The Anglophone Crisis

The case highlights the growing trend of U.S.-based individuals influencing political unrest overseas. Tataw’s involvement ties into the broader Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon, where English-speaking minorities have long claimed government discrimination.

Authorities emphasized that Tataw is not the only American charged with inciting foreign violence. Other recent cases involve figures connected to the Rwandan genocide and a failed coup in Congo.

Justice Department’s Message

“The U.S. will not allow its soil to be used as a platform for global violence,” said Sue J. Bai of the DOJ’s National Security Division.


Location: United States

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