Centre Region: Police parades gang suspected of break-ins in Mbalmayo.

The suspects were presented to the media Monday by the Commissioner of the Central Police Station in Mbalmayo, Senior Superintendent of Police Atangana Cedric Didier.

The suspects, the officer said, were arrested thanks to the collaboration of the population and the thorough investigation and collaboration of the different police units in the towns of Mbalmayo and Yaounde.

The four suspects include 29-year-old Nga Ndongo Marcelin Boris identified as gang leader. The other three suspects, who are all students, were identified as Yoh Abessolo Jeff aged 21, Awoumou Amougou aged 21 and Voula Abessolo Nestor aged 19. 

They are accused of robbing a mobile money kiosk and escaping with 3 million FCFA and two phones.

Speaking to reporters during the presentation of the suspects, the Senior Superintendent of Police Atangana Cedric Didier, disclosed that their arrest was possible thanks to the collaboration of the population of Mbalmayo.

The suspects, he said, took advantage of heavy rain to cause havoc within the town of Mbalmayo until they were apprehended.

Atangana narrated that on August 28, they received a call from an inhabitant at about 1p.m., reporting a robbery attack at a mobile money kiosk in Mbalmayo. Alerted by the arrival of the forces of law and order, the suspects, he disclosed, took to their heels. One of the suspects, Atangana detailed, forgot his bag containing the receipt of his identity card. 

He stated that investigations were immediately launched and five days later, thanks to the intelligence service of the police in collaboration with the different police units in the town, they were able to arrest three suspects.

Zoom on modus operandi 

On their modus operandi, he noted that the suspects, after identifying a robbery point, ensured that no customer will come to the point at any time. He said the suspects then walk up to the counter as a customer and fake a transaction.

Atangana recounted that while the cashier is busy carrying out the operation, they bring out an artisanal gun, close all the doors and carry out their acts. 

Further recounting the incident, Atangana noted that on that ill-faded day, the suspects took the cashier at gunpoint and made away with the sum of 3 million FCFA and two phones.

The suspects, after their operation, Atangana said, damaged the stolen phone in order to cancel all signs that could connect them to the operation, but fortunately they were arrested thanks to the intelligence of the police and collaboration of the population.

The suspects, he said, had as main objective to disrupt the peace and tranquility of the town, create public disorder and cause fear and uncertainty.

“The suspects are aged between 19 and 29 with the head of the gang being a Masters student studying Public Law at the University of Yaounde II, Soa,” he disclosed.

Atangana added that after his arrest and investigation, they found out that the gang leader had also been recently arrested by officers of the Yaounde Central Police station for embezzlement and fraud. This, he added, equally helped to facilitate his arrest.

Questioned on the reason behind their action, the Senior Superintendent of Police noted that the suspects confessed that they were trying to raise money to travel to Canada.

Two of the suspects, he said, had confessed that they had contacted an immigration company that asked them to bring 2.5 million FCFA each so their documents could be processed among those of other young certificate holders wishing to travel to Canada to further their studies.

Ndongo and his friend Yoh, he said, also disclosed that they were under pressure to raise the sum of five million FCFA so they could travel to Canada.

Thanks population call for continuous collaboration

Senior Police Superintendent used the opportunity to thank the population for their collaboration which, he said, has so far helped to maintain peace and order in the town.

He urged the population to continue to collaborate with the forces of law and order in order to better fight insecurity and maintain public order in the town of Mbalmayo and its environs.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3246 of Tuesday October 01, 2024