Yaounde: Retired soldier among notorious gang dismantled by police.

Takor, who is the father of twin brothers; Takor Ayuk Joshua and Takor Enow, said to be the leaders of the gang, was picked up by police officers for hiding and protecting his children. 

The gang members are also noted for harassing and to an extent, killing their victims in the Ekie and Ekounou neighbourhoods in Yaounde IV Subdivision. 

The suspects and two of their accomplices, who were picked up by officers of the Central Police Station N°4 of Yaounde, last August 29, were presented to the public yesterday.

The five arrested suspects, aged between 21 and 37 years, include Kibey Cosmas, Watat Nganang, Doudou Adama, Mboueme Raoul and Joseph Kienunyieh. 

Two of their accomplices, Takor Christopher and Abomo Stephanie, were presented to the public by the Commissioner of the Central Police Station N°4 of Yaounde, Mindjom Christine Irene.

One of the accomplices, Takor Christopher, who is a former soldier, is the father of twin brothers; Takor Ayuk Joshua and Takor Enow, who are said to be leaders of the gang. The twins are still on the run, the police have said. 

According to Commissioner Mindjom, the gang, with eight of their members still on the run, is notorious for carrying out several criminal activities, including the sale and consumption of drugs, theft and in worst cases, killing of some of their victims.

Commissioner Mindjom said the gang comprises individuals from the above mentioned neighbourhoods, who carry out door-to-door operations in the night on bike and on foot, given that they have a perfect mastery of the environment. 

She said they operate with use of pinchers and knives. They are noted for stealing bikes and television sets among others.

Arrested gang members with two of their accomplices presented to the public yesterday 

The most recent of their operation, which led to an outburst, resulting in the intervention of the officers Central Police Station N°4 in Yaounde, the Commissioner said, was on August 7, when the gang attacked 65-year-old Raymond Tientcheu, who died days later in hospital.

“The population of Ekie is going through a difficult moment due to the criminal activities perpetrated by this gang. Last month, they knifed an inhabitant, 65-year-old Mr. Raymond Tientcheu. He died in the hospital days after as a result of that attack,” Commissioner Mindjom stated.

The late Tientcheu, she said, was stabbed after he recognised the boys in the course of the attack. 

Unusual accomplice

The public was shocked when, Takor Christopher, a former soldier and the father of the twin brothers leading the gang, Takor Ayuk and Takor Enow, was presented among those arrested in the police operation. 

The former soldier is in police dragnet for hiding and coordinating the escape of his two children during the operation to get them arrested.

“Among the persons who have been arrested is an aged person named Takor Christopher, a retired military officer who enabled his two children; who are twins and heads of this gang, to escape. The twins were among the four others who attacked and killed Raymond Tientcheu,” Commissioner Mindjom noted.

She further said: “After the attack, my collaborators got to the field to have the criminals arrested. While there, we were told that one of them, Takor Ayuk alias Ayo, was hiding in the ceiling after escaping from his residence. Even when my collaborators heard a noise from the ceiling, his father, Takor Christopher, said the noise was coming from rats though it was actually his son. The father could not surrender the son to us by pretentiously saying that he has grown stubborn beyond his control. That means he is an accomplice to the barbaric acts carried out by his children”. 

Population enjoined to collaborate

The Police Commissioner seized the opportunity to urge the population to avoid falling into the trap of protecting the criminals due to fear. She encouraged them to use every means possible to get the police informed, so that those who wreak havoc in the community are punished accordingly.

“The major problem we have is the lack of collaboration from the population. The population knows the boys very well,” she said. 

“We call on the population to come out and denounce these people. If they cannot come directly to us, they can call our line-1500. We can also go as far as receiving complainants out of our offices to ensure their safety,” concluded.