The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary on Thursday, April 21 during a press briefing in Yaounde, explained the progress of the investigation into robbery case of the Bonaberi, Douala branch of ECOBANK that took place on March 18, 2011.

The heavily armed gang who used explosives to attack the bank, the Minister said, “despite the intervention of the forces of defence and security, escaped through the waters after killing five people on the spot and injuring eight others and going away with a huge sum of money”.

Progress of Case

The Minister disclosed that following of Head of State, Paul Biya’s instructions, the Littoral Gendarmerie Legion opened investigation. “The exploitation of seized property, including mobile phones belonging to the attackers has already led to the arrest of some staff of our defences and other civilian personnel strongly suspected of involvement in the robbery”, Issa Tchiroma Bakary disclosed and added, “There is a clear indication on the destination of some of the stolen money”. The suspects whose responsibility in the robbery case would be established, “will be brought before the competent judicial authorities for disciplinary measures”, the Minister stated.

Military Intervention

The intervention of the forces of defence and security on the spot led to the arrest of two suspects. “On the same day at about 8:40 a.m., two DELTA/RIB boats on patrol in the Rio Del oil field neighbourhood, acting under the rapid alert operation put in place after the attack, located two suspected boats, one blue and the other green sailing from the East to the West at high speed”, the Minister told the press. The soldiers immediately went after the suspected boats and the occupants of the boats opened fire. He said the pirates from the green boat were overpowered, while the boat was destroyed and recovered. The DELTA/RIB was led by Lieutenant Youssouf Mahamat Bahar.

Casualties

In the confrontation that ensued, Lieutenant Youssouf was injured in the abdomen and he later on died. Four other soldiers were injured and two boats of Cameroon’s defence forces damaged. However, 18 pirates were killed, including 11 occupants of the green boat, a high speed boat with two 90 horse power engines seized, several clothing, food, diverse items and 10 mobile phones of different brands recovered.

Emmanuel KENDEMEH