Suspect arrested after Malabo Cathedral fire
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Real Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea’s police have arrested Severo Oburu Ekong Afang, 54, suspected of trying to set fire to Malabo Cathedral on 1 October. Worshippers and security staff had put out the flames before they caused significant damage, according to a police report cited by Real Equatorial Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea’s national police have arrested Severo Oburu Ekong Afang, 54, who is suspected of attempting to set fire to Malabo Cathedral. The arrest follows a month of searches and an investigation into the events of 1 October, according to a police report cited by Real Equatorial Guinea.
Worshippers and security staff put out the fire before it spread, preventing more serious damage. Police said the suspect reportedly explained that he had acted out of anger after officials at the Diocese of Malabo allegedly failed to act on a warning he had sent them. A container, a tyre and a lighter were reportedly among the objects used.
According to police, Severo Oburu Ekong Afang had already been involved in an incident at the cathedral in 2024, when he allegedly smashed the building’s windows. He was then brought before Malabo’s investigating judge number 3.
The arrest follows the investigation into the fire at the entrance of Malabo Cathedral, which occurred on 1 October 2026.
