A 10 month old baby boy reportedly stolen at the Longla neigbourhood in Bamenda was rescued at Banjock and has been handed over to his parents. The baby whose name state radio and television gotten as Daniel was carried away from home on the 13^th of September 2016 after a shrewd manipulation of his baby sitter. The baby sitter Collette Aza recounted that the baby trafficker took the child away when she was busy preparing food. Collette notified the baby’s parents who immediately opened up a quick search and alerted the police at the Bamenda 3 Council.

After a thorough search of all coach services to and from the North West region especially Mondial Express, another step of investigation surfaced when the culprit used her neighbour’s mobile phone and demanded a ransom. The police immediately contacted the MTN office in Bamanda to trace the number.

The perpetuator was finally tracked at Bandjock in the Centre Region by the judicial police. Baby Daniel was finally returned to his parents after a thorough medical examination. With smiles and relief of the traumatic tale, the baby’s mother testified that the three days search was accompanied by prayers of supplication shared with many through the social media and other means of communication.

CRTV

A war of words has reportedly erupted between Transport Minister, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o and his deputy, Mefiro Oumarou, who also moonlights as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co). The all-powerful Minister of Transport sent a letter to his collaborator on August the 30th 2016 in which he requested Mefiro Oumarou to explain what he said on the airwaves of the state owned radio and television on two different programs Weekly News and Inside the Presidency.

Mebe Ngo’o, we learned, was also not happy with pronouncements made by his assistant and had to go on the radio program Dimanche Midi to debunk the rantings of his subordinate that challenged the Camair Co recovery plan developed by the manufacturer Boeing. The situation seems to be developing a kind of tug-of-war in the ministry as both men have all granted two interviews each on the matter. National public opinion has witnessed an unprecedented bewildering spectacle, featuring the Minister of Transport and his deputy painting a confusing and declining transport policy.

Cameroon Concord News understands, Minister Mebe Ngo’o is no longer feared and respected by the ruling Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo hegemony. The Transport Minister even asked to meet Mefiro Oumarou on Monday, August 29, 2016. But his deputy left Cameroon on Saturday, August 27, 2016, to enjoy his holiday without having the politeness and courtesy to inform his boss. The Minister observed that Mefiro Oumarou has lost sight of his roles as Minister Delegate to the Minister of Transport and Board member of Camair-Co and plans to remind the Mefiro Oumarou that he remains under the authority of the Minister.

By Rita Akana

Some military families and a cross section of the population of the Far North region have paid homage to soldiers of the Rapid Intervention Battalion who died defending the nation in the war against Boko Haram. The families came together during an interreligious service that took place at the command post of “Operation Alpha Unit” in Maroua.

President Paul Biya reportedly extended his condolences to the bereaved families through the Governor of the Far North region, Midjiyawa Bakari. Biya also appealed to the civilian population, the members of the Vigilante committee, traditional and religious rulers to continue supporting the soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism.

Brigadier General Jacob Kodji Commander of the 4th Military Legion said the ceremony was organized to boost the morale of everyone especially the soldiers and those intending to join the military corps. Spiritual leaders from the Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic and Islam denominations in their prayers extended words of encouragement and comfort to the bereaved families.

CRTV

Three man aged between 20 and 34 years were presented to the press as a gang of taxi robbers who have dispossessed some 30 women of their handbags using a taxi in Yaoundé. The alleged gang leader, Tsala Andre Jules who also goes by the name Boulli Jean alias Pa Ye is an ex-convict. He is said to have created the gang after he left prison about a year ago for similar offences. He is the driver of the taxi used in the robbery. He told the police that they operate about three times a week generally around 8:00pm to 6:30am.

He was arrested in Essos after he attempted to escape. Enyengue Andre Loic, a member of the gang fakes the role of a passenger in the front seat of the taxi they use in their operations while Mekongo Augustin plays the same role on the back sit. Both men were arrested in Mimboman neighbourhood. They have denied any involvement.

According Senior Police Superintendent Babanguida Ahmadou, service head for Interventions and Investigations at the Judicial Police Department in Yaoundé, investigations that led to the arrest of the gang began after a victim deposited a complaint.

The victim noted the matriculation number of the taxi in which she was robbed of her hand bad containing her tablet, smart phone and a medical; kit Bio Disque. The victim told the police that she boarded the taxi at about 9:30pm at the Multi Sports Complex to Elig Edzoa. During the journey the drive change the direction and drove to a dark area. The passenger on the back seat pull out a dagger placed on her throat and threatened to kill her if she resisted. The accomplice on the front seat then ceased all her belongings.

A huge number of handsets including smart, phones, tablets and laptops including other devices and daggers where presented to the press as objects recovered from the suspects who are expected to face the law courts.

CRTV

A suicide bomber was killed on Wednesday night in Djakana as he was about to unleash mayhem. Cameroon Concord News was reliably informed that he was shot by elements of the secret service and the bomb he was carrying exploded wounding five other persons. The death toll from the incident that occurred in Djakana, near the district of Mora in the Mayo-Sava Division in the Far North is expected to rise as four other persons were badly affected.

The explosion happened shortly after evening prayer. The suicide attack on Wednesday comes one month to the day after the last attack that hit Mora on the 21^st of August 2016 which claimed the lives of 4 and wounded 24. These suicide attacks on Cameroonian territory are not claimed by Boko Haram. They are systematically attributed to the Nigerian Islamic sect by Cameroon security forces. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Organization of the Islamic state and is now called Province of the Islamic State in West Africa.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files from Amadou Adama

A training in emergency intervention techniques which covered strategies used in conceiving, preparing and carrying out operations in crowded environments to track terrorist and free hostages has ended in Yaounde.According to officials, equipping Cameroon’s defence and security with skills to effectively anticipate and counter any terrorist operations ahead of major events in the country including the Women’s Africa Cup Nations is indispensable.  Non-commissioned officers of the Gendarmerie and National Security personnel have taken part in two separate training courses in planning and execution of anti-terrorist operations.

The first continent composed on 15 police and 15 gendarmes including 9 female officers from the respective corp where trained at the Judicial Police Training Centre of the National Gendarmerie in Yaoundé. They were educated on the mode of operation of terrorist movements, their potential targets and how to anticipate and stop their atrocities. Techniques of investigating crime scenes and elaborating reports for the judiciary were also learnt.  The officers refreshed their minds on the working of the international police organisation, Interpol.

The Central Director of Coordination of the National Gendarmerie, Brigadier General Elokobi Daniel Njock saluted the French cooperation for the training that was facilitated by French experts. He called on the laureates to share the newly acquired skilled with colleagues in their respectively units.

Another refresher course took place in Mbankomo for 26 non-commissioned officers of the Multi-Purpose Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie. They were trained on techniques of liberating hostages and tracking terrorist in confined areas like hotels, stadia, sports complex, planes, and trains.

The Inspector No 1, of the National Gendarmerie, Colonel Ekongwese Divine Nnoko who closed the session called on the soldiers of the intervention force to be on the alert and ready at all times. He said evidence has showed that terrorists turn to attack civilian, strategic and military installations and it’s incumbent on them to anticipant, prevent and where necessary free hostages.

CRTV

The Head of State, Paul Biya and First Lady, Chantal Biya have left the country for New York in the United States to attend the 71st regular session of the UN General Assembly. The solemn opening of the 71st session was held on Tuesday, September 13, 2016.

The UN General Assembly offers every year to the member states the opportunity to express their views on major international issues.

The theme of the general debate of the 71st session will be sustainable development goals: universal force of transformation of the world, as proposed by the new President of the Assembly, Peter Thomson (Fiji), after his election 13 June 2016.

By Rita Akana

President Paul Biya has met for the last time, the outgoing French ambassador to Cameroon, Christine Robichon. Cameroon Concord News was reliably informed that the audience that held on the 14th of September 2016 provided an opportunity for the Cameroonian dictator to thank Madam Robichon for the peaceful co-existence that reigns between Cameroon and the French republic.

The French diplomat read a farewell message to Mr Biya, informing the president that she has come to the end of her three-year mission in the country. During the over 90 – minute tete-a-tete, they reviewed the state of bilateral relations between Cameroon and France. They also revisited the political and security situation in the Central African sub region.

The Buea Municipal Council on an urbanization mission:

The Buea Municipal Council, recently broke down shelters and petit businesses along the streets of Buea. Officials say this is in an attempt to maintain some sanitation and order in this town. More is to be done, to transform Buea into an outstanding town in Cameroon.

Cameroon Government ramps up security ahead of AFCON:

Cameroon’s Defence Minister, Joseph Beti Assomo, says government would take measures to ensure the security of players, fans and others during the African Women Cup of Nations slated for November in Yaounde and Limbe.

Camair-Co’s Ex Director General, Jean Paul Nana Sandjo, denies American Nationality and denounces witch-hunt:

According to The Times Journal, The former Director General of the ailing national airline, Camair-Co, Jean Paul Nana Sandjo, recently announced to all, that he was neither seeking to flee Cameroon nor was beign investigated for financial impropriety as was being bandied by the press across the nation.

NCC Creates Excellence Award for Socially Responsible Journalism:

The National Communication Council has announced the creation of a Media Excellence  and Responsible Journalism Award  scheme, dubbed Excell’Com, in a bid to uphold ethically sound journalism.

The government of Cameroon has honoured the outgoing French ambassador to Cameroon, Christine Robichon with the status of the Officer of the Order of Valour. Ambassador Robichon was decorated during a farewell state dinner offered in her honour by the President of the Republic at the Yaounde Monte Febe Hotel.

The Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella saluted the efforts of the diplomat in reinforcing bilateral ties between Cameroon and France. The Minister reviewed the ambassador’s contribution and that of France in helping Cameroon in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism.

Minister Mbella Mbella further observed that France has always been a reliable development partner to Cameroon and cited the recent C2D programme that has seen the injection of over FCFA 400 billion into the Cameroonian economy. The External Relations Minister praised Robichon’s efforts in championing the visit of the French President, François Holland to Cameroon.

He transmitted the message of appreciation from the Head of State to Christine Robichon for her role in the relations which he termed excellent. The dinner was attended by some 20 prominent personalities of the state including ten cabinet ministers.

CRTV