Police Dismantle Dangerous Armed Gangs

Police in Kumba have unmasked two separate gangs of thieves comprising at least three members each.

The gangs are specialised in reaping millions from churches, emptying the houses of judicial officers and high profile personalities through break-ins.

The suspect thieves were unveiled to the public, Tuesday July 4, at the Kumba Central Police Station in the presence of Meme SDO, Chamberlin Ntou’ou Ndong, forestry, judiciary and custom officials.

They suspects included: Vitalis Nwanchia Acha, 25, Elvis Ndue Ngunde 39, Armstrong Orchor Meter 25, Ewane Dikume 25, Henry Kima 19, and Blaise Akale Ngoya alias Game.

According to the Commissioner in charge of Public security at the Kumba Central Police Station, Wilson Njume Njikang, the thieves have admitted carrying out several operations in Kumba.

The Commissioner stated that the gangs are responsible for the sleepless nights in the metropolis.

Presenting the gangs, Njume disclosed that the one specialised in church harvest have confessed stealing close to FCFA 10million from different churches within two weeks.

He said the thieves admitted to using part of the money to buy brand new motor bikes which they use to facilitate other operations.

Among the churches which suffer the theft is the Faith Baptist Church.

The Police Commissioner said the gang programmes most of their operations during the harvest thanksgiving season in most churches.

The second gang is focused on break-in. Njume said they had an informant in Kumba who is at large. He said the days of the informant are also numbered.

 Among the thieves is a student of the forestry school in Mbalmayo. He uses his uniform to pose as a soldier.

When informed, the thieves converge on Kumba from different locations across the country to operate.

They have a warehouse were their stolen items are kept.

Among their recent attacks is that of a high profile Magistrate, Vivian Mengale.

At her house, the thieves reportedly made away with her phone, a pistol and FCA 400,000.

Commissioner Njume said the same gang recently attacked the home of the President of the Kumba High Court, Prince Ndoki Mukete.

In the case of the Magistrate, the police rounded off the thieves within six days after the Regional boss of the police issued a two week deadline for the thieves to be napped.

According to Commissioner Njume, the population must be partner to the police in the exercise of their duty.

He urged the population to signal the police in case of anything at anytime.

Among the items unveiled alongside the thieves are dozens of mobile phones, pistols, fridges, flat screen televisions, computers, speakers, vegetable oil, bikes, knives, hammers, carpets and other household items

 Magistrate Vivian Mengale, who visited the police station, recognised one of the thieves that stormed her house.

She said they took away her phone and the husband’s pistol.

SDO Ntou’ou Ndong saluted the police effort and said it was the beginning of his resolve in partnership with all services to clean Kumba of hoodlums.

He called for more synergy between the security forces and the population to keep such gangs at bay.