Togo: Major Breakthrough in Tackling Armed Robbery Network in Lomé

The latest incident leading to their apprehension dates back to December 7, 2023. On that day, a pastor was approached by two individuals at his place of prayer in Adidogomé Yokoê. They persistently requested him, offering a substantial sum of money, to travel with his own vehicle, a Toyota Highlander, to pray for their allegedly sick brother. When the pastor refused, they returned shortly after with a third individual, the presumed patient. Instead of a prayer session, the pastor and the eight worshipers present that evening were held at gunpoint by these individuals armed with two automatic pistols. They were robbed of their valuables, and the pastor's car was stolen.{loadmoduleid 377}

The Research and Intervention Brigade of the National Police, upon being alerted, initiated an investigation. The interrogation of the victims, coupled with the exploitation of technological traces, led to the identification and location of two suspects residing near the Ghanaian border. With the collaboration of the Anti-Crime Brigade of Yokoê, the two suspects were arrested on January 5, 2024. They are identified as A. Éric, 46 years old, and D. François, alias Pasto, 33 years old, both of Cameroonian nationality. Formally identified by their victims, A. Éric confessed and added that he acted with two other compatriots known as Martial-1 and Martial-2.

A few days earlier, the Research Brigade of the National Gendarmerie had arrested and detained two other Cameroonians suspected of attempted theft in Zanguera. In the framework of inter-service collaboration, these suspects were handed over to the Research and Intervention Brigade of the National Police and were revealed to be I. Martial and E. Martial, namely Martial-1 and Martial-2.

From their statements, it emerges that these four individuals belong to an armed robbery network led by a certain N. M. Clément Didier, alias Tony Yves. Despite being detained in the civil prison of Lomé since May 2020 for armed robbery of luxury cars, N. M. Clément Didier portrays himself as the Director of a car sales company in Cameroon, Benin, and Togo. Through one of his henchmen named Jojo, he provides accommodation, weapons, and means of transportation to young delinquents from his neighborhood in Yaoundé, Cameroon, whom he brought to Lomé in May 2023.

The actions of this network are not random. When N. M. Clément Didier, through his company in Cameroon, receives orders for high-end cars, he sends photos of these cars to his associates in Lomé. They roam the city, and as soon as they spot a corresponding vehicle, they follow the driver to learn about their frequented places and, especially, to locate their residence. Generally, as soon as the victim enters their garage, they burst in, holding the victim and all present individuals at gunpoint, with the two automatic pistols supplied by N. M. Clément Didier. While three of these criminals detain the victims and search their house for valuables, one of them takes the stolen car to hand it over to a fifth person whose role is to drive the stolen vehicle to Benin via Afagnan. As for the robbers, they detain the victims for several hours to allow the stolen car to leave Lomé, then flee using their motorcycles. The stolen cars are sold in Cameroon or Nigeria.

The two weapons used by these robbers were seized during this investigation: two semi-automatic Glock 19 pistols, each equipped with a magazine and loaded with 9mm caliber ammunition.

This network is responsible for several armed robberies in Lomé. On September 10, 2023, in a massage parlor in the Avédji district, they held the patients captive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and took away a MG brand car and another Jeep Cherokee. Two days later, they visited a residence in Yokoê with the intention of stealing a HYUNDAI SANTAFE car. They held and robbed the occupants of the house, always under the threat of their weapons, from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. They eventually abandoned the idea of taking the car because the brand did not interest their sponsor. On September 14, 2023, these criminals entered a residence in the Agbalepedo district at night, and using the same modus operandi, took away a TOYOTA PRADO TXL type car.

The individuals named N. M. Clément Didier alias Tony Yves, I. Martial, E. Martial, A. Éric, and D. François alias Pasto will be brought before the Public Prosecutor in Lomé to answer for their actions. Other members of this network are on the run and are actively sought. They are named Jojo, Etémé, Barthelemy, Thierry, and Fabrice.

The National Police calls on any witnesses who may know the whereabouts or location of these individuals to report it to the nearest Police or Gendarmerie station. This applies whether in Togo, Cameroon, or Benin. Thanks to the police cooperation between these three countries, they can be apprehended to answer for their actions.

The National Police once again expresses gratitude to the public for its ongoing collaboration and urges increased vigilance.{loadmoduleid 378}