Santa Subdivision: Three in custody over kidnap, killing, selling corpse of eight-yr-old.

According to information we gathered, the three suspects are said to have kidnapped Awalou, on January 16, 2024, and ferried him to Dschang, in Menoua Division of the West Region.

They are said to have reached out to the father of the young boy, demanding a ransom of 3 million FCFA, to secure the release of their son. 

The father of the boy is reported to have pleaded with them to accept 500,000 FCFA, which they accepted. 

Mohamadou Awalou’s father is said to have sent the money to the suspected kidnappers on January 19, but they refused to release the child after receiving the money. 

The suspects are said to have gone ahead to kill the child. As confessed by one of the suspects, Buba Jolie, the remains of the boy were later sold to one Ali Jae Ousmanou in Tayandi in Koutaba, Noun Division of the West Region, for 10 million FCFA! 

Reports hold that after failing to secure the release of his son from the kidnappers, the father, reported the case to the Brigade Commander of the Gendarmerie brigade in Awing, who then opened investigations.

The investigation initiated by the Brigade Commander, led to the tracking and arrest of one of the kidnappers, Buba Jolie, on January 23, by officers of the Dschang Central Police. 

He was later transferred to the Awing Gendarmerie Brigade. The other suspect, Ousseini, was also arrested a few days after. The other suspect, Adamou Manu, is said to be on the run.

Ali Jae, who is said to have bought the remains of Mohamadou Awalou, was also tracked and arrested on February 17 in Koutaba. He was later transferred to the Awing Gendemerie Brigade.

The three are now being held in detention in Bamenda and will be presented to the State Prosecutor while investigations to get hold of the other suspect, Adamou Manu, are still on course.

Cameroon is grappling with a surge in child kidnappings and human trafficking; leaving the local population gripped with fear.

In recent years, reports of children being abducted from their homes, schools and streets, have become all too common. 

The kidnappers' sinister motives go beyond ransom demands, as the stolen children are being sold for human remains, fueling a dark and illegal trade.

Communities are living in terror, as the authorities struggle to contain the situation. 

Parents in Awing, where the latest incident occurred, are living with the constant fear of losing their children, while children are left traumatised and scarred by the experiences.