Mbalmayo: Police arrests suspected notorious criminals, human bone traffickers.

Information about the development was divulged to reporters yesterday. The suspects, officers said, were arrested following a thorough investigation carried out in the locality under the supervision of the Commissioner of the Mbalmayo Central Police Station, Senior Superintendent of Police, Atangana Cedric Didier.

Police authorities in Mbalmayo told reporters that the suspects had been a serious threat to the local population. The officers said the suspects had carried out countless operations in the towns of Mbalmayo, Yaounde and Obala. The same sources said they gang members were involved in theft, armed robbery, burglary and homicide.

Police officers also said the suspects were also into the merciless killing of denizens. Security officials said the situation went out of hand after the suspects received an order from an Imam in Yaounde in exchange for millions.

Suspects mode of operation

The suspects, police authorities also said operate in different manners.  One of such ways, the police officers said was that, they pretend to be customers and propose tempting prices to commercial riders to specific locations where gang members usually surface and ambush their victims.

The belongings of victims, after such acts, the officers equally said, are always taken away by the suspects after having killed their target. Most of the items, reporters were told, are usually sent to Yaounde were they are sold.

Season of doom

According to the Head of the Mbalmayo First District Public Security Police Station, Senior Superintendent Police Bodametong Djende Yannick, the suspects met their doom after the brutal assassination of a motorbike rider Zoa boa Emmanuel.

The victim, he said, was killed on the night of May 22 in the Ngallan neighbourhood. Bodamentong Djende further explained that their “unit received intelligence from a reliable source about the author of the macabre act”.

He also explained that they immediately launched investigations which led to the arrest of one of the suspects, Abdoul Karim alias Commando.

After obtaining more information from Abdoul, Bodamentong Djende said the unit later arrested two of his accomplices; Ousman Mamadou alias General who was identified as the leader of the gang and Yakoubou Mohamadou. 

During a visit to the Yakoubou’s house, reporters learnt that the police retrieved a bag hidden in the roof containing the skeletons of two adults.

The fourth suspect, whose name The Guardian Post got as Abdoul Wahabou, the same official said, was arrested in Bafoussam. 

Senior Superintendent of Police Djende said the exploit was thanks to the collaboration of the Regional Judicial Police in the West Region.

Bodamentong Djende said the suspects in the course of interrogations confessed that they killed Zoaboa Emmanuel.

He also said the suspects told the police that they were responsible for the death of another commercial motorbike rider, Aboubakar Vincent Aminou. 

They are said to have killed Aminou on May14 in Zamakoe, a village around Mbalmayo. The suspect, police also said, told them that they have also broken into several tombs to steal skeletons.

Enter Mbalmayo Central Police Station boss 

Speaking to the press, the Commissioner of the Central Police Station in Mbalmayo, Senior Superintendent of Police, Atangana Cedric Didier, reiterated the commitment of the police to ensure the security of persons and property.

He added that through the commendable efforts of the police, Mbalmayo, which use to be known for chaos and disorder, has witnessed a wind of change much to the satisfaction of residents.

The head of the Central Police Station also thanked the population for their collaboration with forces of law and order. 

He said it is thanks to the support of the local population that they have been able to restore order and serenity in Mbalmayo. 

He also seized the occasion to thank the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, for the human and material support give officers in Mbalmayo to effectively carry out their duties.

 This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No 3138 of Tuesday June 11, 2024