Police arrest 17-year-old who allegedly robbed 7 gov’t ministries

Police in Yaounde have arrested a 17-year-old boy identified as Alain Ibrahim, who has allegedly broken into multiple buildings, including seven government Ministries this year.

The Central Police Station No. 1 in Yaoundé presented him to the media yesterday, November 3.

The Divisional Commissioner, Thierry Medou, said the 17-year-old has broken into seven Ministries and stolen money, laptops, and other valuables.

“So far, he has robbed seven Ministries: the Ministry of Communication, Commerce, Health, Mines and others,” the Commissioner said.

“He always collects from these offices laptops, money and many others we are still evaluating,” he added.

Based on police investigations, Mr Medou said, Ibrahim has been working with someone who gives him all directives and information about the targets.

“He has someone he works with who is his mentor and has been giving all the directives. When he steals, he goes and gives that mentor who has been using him,” said the Commissioner.

He added that the suspect will be charged with burglary and related offenses.

He also warned that the police will not tolerate any form of criminality and will take all necessary measures to protect the public.

“We have been evaluating this case for a long time now and have accumulated enough from our investigation and he will be brought down before the law together with his so-called mentor,” Mr Medou added.

For the past months, the city of Yaounde has witnessed endemic levels of criminality that have fueled insecurity.

The crimes range from kidnapping to rape, killing, theft, human parts trafficking, among others.

Amid this wave of insecurity, government Ministries, which are considered highly secured, have not been spared.

The high crime wave could be blamed on youth unemployment and loss of societal values.

However, many have also cast doubts on the effectiveness of the law enforcement system, including the police and gendarmes.

This is because many suspected criminals, including those caught red-handed, sometimes bribe their way out of police cells and continue wreaking havoc on society.

In September, the country’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, frowned at high levels of criminality in the capital city.

He said criminals were increasingly using motorbikes to sow insecurity in Yaounde.

“In August and September, more than 700 cases of assault; 300 cases of rape, 900 cases of serious accidents; some of whose victims are disabled for life, were reported,” he said.

Mimi Mefo Info