A military engineer has been arrested after being caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) robbing a shop in a neighbourhood in Yaounde.
A video circulating on social media recently reveals the military officer entering a shop, seemingly with the intention to make a purchase.
After posing as a regular customer, he strategically seizes the opportunity when the shop owner is momentarily distracted.
The footage captures the moment he snatches a small-sized woofer speaker and conceals it within his military attire.
Reports indicate that the suspect was intercepted on the streets of the implicated neighbourhood on Friday, November 25.
The incident has sparked a wave of reactions from the public, reflecting a mix of disbelief and concern over the behaviour of a member of the military.
“The country is as hard as steel,” remarked Aubin Demanou, echoing the sentiments of many who question the motivation behind such actions.
“They can’t do like in Mali and Burkina; they spend the time stealing like nobodies.”
Ana’stasia, another observer, wondered whether the military engineer was under the influence of drugs or if he was possibly possessed to commit such an act.
Meanwhile, Phenoulle suggested that the individual in question may have been a “bad seed” even before joining the army.
She remarked, “These are the people we send to the army so that the family can breathe.”
This incident is not an isolated case in Cameroon, as the country has witnessed similar instances of security officers involved in criminal activities.
Often, criminals disguise themselves as military officers to exploit civilians, while some caught wearing military attire are revealed to be genuine members of the armed forces.
In 2022, an army captain, Michel Julio Effa Effa, was arrested for theft and torture. His apprehension, which took place in the Aka’a Esse village near Sangmelima in the South Region, exposed his possession of 25 guns concealed in a church where he had formerly served as a pastor.
As investigations unfold, this recent incident raises questions about the integrity of security forces and the measures in place to ensure that those entrusted with protecting the public adhere to the highest standards of conduct.
