Gang of alleged serial rapists arrested in Yaounde.

The suspects who were arrested on March 23 at about 3 p.m., were recently presented to the press and the public. The alleged rapists, who were kept anonymous, are said to be aged between 17 to 25. 

According to the Company Commander of Yaounde III Gendarmerie, Captain Chick Tah, the arrest of the suspects was guided by an intelligence report.

He said investigations had been ongoing following complaints that were filed by some of the victims. 

“They had the habit of following their victims as from 7pm, and then in lonely or narrow streets, corners and they harass and seize their valuable belongings, then rape them. We caught them around Camp sic Nlongkak, smoking Indian hemp,” Captain Chick Tah said.

Upon arrest, the gendarmerie officials said they seized from the alleged rapists, 20 small bundles of Indian hemp and seven knives, which they used to attack and threaten victims. 

Victims recount ordeals

A total of three victims were presented by the gendarmes, including a minor. The first victim narrated that she met one of the alleged rapists in a narrow-lonely street in the neighbourhood. 

The victim said she thought her alleged violator was a robber and quickly surrendered her purse, phone and other items, thinking that was what he wanted.

“But he had other plans as he refused to collect the items I gave him. He put them back in my bag. He threatened me with a knife and directed me to a building under construction where he forced me to undress myself. He took advantage of me. He raped me,” she recounted. 

The second victim, for her part, said she met her alleged rapist on the street while returning from a friend’s birthday party. She said he was carrying a bottle of beer, which he broke and started threatening her with the sharp broken end. 

The victim added that the alleged rapist slapped her and started cutting her with the broken bottle, scars of which she showed the public. 

“He said I should not resist as he tore my clothes with the broken bottle and then proceeded to rape me,” she concluded.

The third victim, a minor, recounted that her alleged rapist was a friendly face, a big brother in the neighborhood.

“He called me little sister and sent me to go buy him juice. When I returned with the juice and asked him to come and get it, he said I should bring it into his house. I took the juice inside, he locked the door and offered me some to drink. I refused to drink but he forced me. After drinking the juice, my head started turning and I became weak. I could feel him tying my hands and legs,” she said.

The victim added that she woke up laying on the floor after being raped by the four suspects who drugged her. 

The alleged rapists are said to have warned their victims they would be killed if they mentioned the criminal act to anyone. 

While two of the victims stayed quiet, one narrated the ordeal to her sister, who in turn told their mother, who reported the matter to gendarmes.

The alleged rapists, sources say, will face criminal charges, and possibly heavy jail terms.