Douala: Amputee footballer accused of theft, jailed for three months despite plea of innocence

A player of HAVA Amputee Football Club in Douala, Ayaba Reagen Ihimbru, has cried out he is innocent of theft accusations levied against him, which have led to his detention at the New Bell Prison for three months now.

He told MMI he was a victim of the same burglary for which he is being accused of masterminding.

The Police arrested Ayaba on December 27, 2022, on the instructions of the head of INFA Institute, a higher education institution in Douala, after armed robbers broke into the school building and stole valuable documents.

The school building also hosts HAVA AFC, where Ayaba Reagen is Team Manager.

He told MMI he was in the office when thieves broke into the building at about 3am and stole several items, including his phones, computers and the sum of 62,000 francs.

“The armed robbers attacked me and the security guy that is working at INFA Institute where our head office is found… The armed robbers told us that they did not come for us, they just came to collect some documents so if we stay calm they won’t harm us. So they tied our hands and took documents of the owner of INFA Institute that were in the hard drive and left,” he recounted.

The burglary happened barely a week since Ayaba Reagen’s HAVA Amputee Football Club started renting part of the building which serves as their headquarters.

After the incident, the head of INFA Institute suspected Ayaba and the security man who was on duty on the night of the robbery and got them arrested.

They were later remanded at the New Bell Prison in Douala for something Ayaba Reagan says he knows nothing about.

“The armed robbers took two of my phones, one tablet, three laptops and went with them. To be sincere with you…I know nothing about it,” he said.

The case is presently at the Bonanjo Court where Ayaba Reagen has made his first appearance.

Mimi Mefo Info