The bandits stabbed Ahladji Guero Harouna and deprived him of 16 million FCFA in the evening of last Tabaski at his Congo neighbourhood residence.

Three men suspected of having robbed the Muslim cleric of FCFA 16 million at his residence around Marché Congo have been nabbed. Elements of the Judicial Police in Douala carried out the raid in various neighbourhoods of the city, where the armed suspects who constitute a squad of hardened criminals, had particularly murdered, rocked consternations or looted several valuables from homes, businesses and offices.

Calculated siege by the police around Bépanda, New Bell and Newtown Aéroport throughout last week accounts for the wave of arrests. It appears the robbers trailed Ahladji Guero Harouna from Base Elf, where Muslims had held prayers to celebrate the 1432th edition of the Tabaski in Douala last Sunday, November 7, 2011. It is told here that the underworld spotted the Ahladji as he bountifully gave out banknotes to dancers and other participants on the occasion. Later that the night a gang of armed robbers broke into his residence, stabbed him severally on the back and compelled him to show them where the sac of money was – which they made away with.

Also, Guero family members present at home were severely tortured and forced to observe silence did so until a harmless, unsuspecting neighbour walked in. The cleric who was left bleeding profusely was rushed to a local hospital where several days he received medical attention. Their arrests are a relief to the victim and family who turned up to testify to investigators.

During the Tabaski prayer, the presiding Imam, His Eminence Mohammad, preached about good conduct of a Muslim. His message; “A good Muslim is one who carries out good works and purifies the heart,” was apparently overturned by some faithful who have also been caught in the murder attempt.

“The gang operated in a defined array well-known to the underworld,” a police told Cameroon Tribune yesterday.