allAfrica.com: Cameroon: Band of Bandits Apprehended (Page 1 of 1)

The armed robbers are part of a group already arrested by the Public Security Charge Office located at the Odza neighbourhood in Yaounde.

The one-month criminal investigations carried out by the 15th Sub-Divisional Public Security Charge Office continue to yield fruits. On Monday 31 March in Yaounde, the Chief of the Unit, Ze Jean Joseph, a superintendent of police and his men apprehended two members of a gang. The arrest of Elandi Adzongo Fabien alias "Adjudant Chef" Papy, age 26 and Bayietimbue Adolph alias "magic"-Chef de Gendarmerie, age 18, adds to over ten members of a gang who were arrested last month and awaiting trail in different prisons in Yaounde.

Ze Jean Joseph says criminal investigations started in February after a series of raids that took place from 12 December 2007 to 11 January this year. The particular bunch of criminals operated with automatic rifles, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons while dressed in gendarmes' uniform carrying the various grades they had given themselves. It all started during the night of 12 -13 December, 2007 when a band of bandits, five in number, dressed in gendarme uniforms and armed with guns and cutlasses attacked a resident at Nkolda along the Nsimalan airport road making away with money and jewelleries. From the 27-28 December, 2007 the same gang stole from a house behind the Ndi-Samba University Complex at Odza. One week later, the same gang raided a house at Nkol-Anga along the Mfou road. As if this was not enough, from 5 -8 January and 10-11 January this year, the said gang invaded houses around the Odza and Ngousso neighbourhoods respectively. Following the manner of operation, the attire and weapons used by the bandits, police sources said it was necessary to open investigations.

During the first phase of investigations, the chief of the 15th Sub-Divisional Public Security Charge Office said over ten members of the gang were caught by the police. One of them is a former guard at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation. On leaving the ministry, it is said that the guard stole two automatic guns which he was using to rent out to bandits. Superintendent of Police, Ze Jean Joseph, says another member of the gang, Bakari, was caught around Nsam junction. While Bakari attempted to tussle with the forces of law and order, he was shut around his chest. Ze Jean Joseph says Bakari died 48 hours later at the Yaounde Central Hospital as he refused to identify any member of his family. Police sources say Elandi Adzongo Fabien had escaped to Ngaoundere and Garoua, where he continued his usual job. After looting in some homes in Ngaoundere and Garoua, he decided to come back to the capital city where he was caught at the Nkolmesseng neighbourhood along side other accomplices such as Adolph. Plans are underway to arrest further members of the gang as well as those who buy the stolen goods.

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