There is a recurrent phenomenon of armed bandits in Yaounde. Statistics indicate that eight cases are recorded each night. Having a peaceful and restful night has become something luxurious and far-fetched for many inhabitants in Yaounde. This is not because many can not afford a comfortable place to sleep rather it is due to the fear of an unholy and unwanted visit by men of the under world. Bandits have been rendering night-rest unpleasant for many people as they break into homes making away with valuable items as well as wounding the occupants. Statistics from the forces of law and order indicate that each night, close to ten cases of armed robbery are reported in various Gendarmerie and Police Stations in Yaounde.

Two weeks ago at the Rue-Damas neighbourhood in Yaounde, two armed robbers, with faces covered, break into the home of a media practitioner. The occupants immediately alerted the forces of law and order through the “117” emergency telephone number. In spite the screaming for help, “bandits! bandits! bandits!”, the thieves did not bother but went on to tell their victims that “you are wasting your time shouting for help because nobody is going to go out of the house, we are going to meet you people inside the house”. Using the instruments they came along with, the armed robbers destroyed the door, collected a DVD and disappeared into thin air once they realised the police and gendarmerie were around their area of operation.

Last weekend around the round-point express neighbourhood in Yaounde, a woman was attacked at gun-point. Knowing that it is a woman working with the forces of law and order, the bandits ordered her to hand her pistol. Lucky enough, the lady did not have her gun at home. Yesterday around the Melen neighbourhood in Yaounde, armed robbers took a motel hostage, assaulting individuals from one room to the other. But thanks to the Special Rapid Intervention Unit of the police, the armed bandits were arrested. Such robbery attacks are just a tip of what happens in the capital city each night.

Information gathered from the gendarmerie indicates that each night in Yaounde, operatives of the gendarmerie intervene in 15 cases of distress amongst which eight are linked to armed robbery. This indicates that in a week, the gendarmerie records over 60 reported cases of robbery in various nooks and crannies in Yaounde. The rampant raids have raised eye-brows. While the forces of law and orders are reinforcing strategies against the bandits, same as individuals at personal level.