Police worried Magistrates may free notorious Yaounde gang

Officers of the judicial police in Yaounde have expressed fears that a notorious gang of armed bandits currently in detention might be set free by magistrates who will be handling their case in the days ahead.

A police source who preferred anonymity told The Cameroon Journal that police chiefs have decided to henceforth present to press, all suspects they classify as a menace to society in order to make them known by the public should magistrates decide to set them free.

The officer was talking to the Journal on June 4, shortly after five members of the said gang led by one 27-year old Messa Christian were presented to the media at the headquarters of the judicial police. He said magistrates have been known to set criminals free.

“It is good that even when they are set free, they should have that stigma. People should be watchful whenever they are around them,” our source said.

The members of Messa’s gang who are being detained with him, include, Nama Yves, 24, Fossi Kingue Achill, 28, Ngangue Dominique Moustapha, 30. They are all ex-convicts. As for the fifth suspect, Passi Patrick, 27, he may be going to jail for his first time.

About four members of the gang had already been tried and sentenced. Some are still at large.

Going by police reports, the bunch of criminals who were caught in possession of weed, two automatic pistols, two artisanal pistols, daggers and other operating ‘equipment’ are specialized in robbing financial institutions and homes.

Their most recent recorded operations in Yaounde include the robbing of a certain Banja Jean Honore on April 30. He lost over 4 million FCFA and other valuables in the robbery. On April 21, they robbed a certain Ondoa Olinga at his family residence and made away with 800

They carried out a series of operations on April 2, robbing a certain Ngalle Ngalle Christian of 853 thousand francs from his home, robbed two motels and 2 other homes in the Nkoabang neighbourhood.

On February 28, the bandits carried out eight operations. They stole a highlander four wheel drive from a certain Kamtcheu Marie Magdelene, at the Fandena neigbourhood, and robbed a Green Oil filling station in Nkoabang.

They equally attacked three homes around the BEAC headquarters, stealing 700 thousand francs and other valuables from a certain Ali Mama and over one million from Hayisatou Mamadou. They had equally robbed Yomba Valentine, a security officer in November 2014 at the Mimboman neighbourhood, taking away his pistol.

The police said they are expecting more victims to show up at the station in the coming days. The gang is said to be operating beyond Yaounde as they have already had victims from Edea.

The suspects were not allowed to speak. They would be presented at the Military Tribunal on June 5.