Gendarmes parade suspected kidnappers in Yaounde.

Officers said they were apprehended a few days earlier at the Ekounou neighbourhood in possession of ropes, a dagger, six mobile phones, viagra pills, sim cards, essential oils and perfumes as well as pieces of papers with details for mobile money transactions. 

The Head of Criminal Investigation and the Fight against Organised Crime at the First Gendarmerie Region, Major Henri Danzabe, said the pair is notorious for kidnapping young women for ransom.

Speaking on behalf of the Commander of the First Gendarmerie Region, Brigadier General Toungue Elias, Major Danzabe added that the duo operated particularly in the towns of Douala and Yaounde. 

He said they lured victims with promise of love, business deals and then turnaround and kidnap them after winning their trust.

Major Danzabe stated that the suspects usually undress, tie up, muzzle, and film their victims and then send the footage to their relatives, asking for huge sums of money. 

The officer indicated that the suspects confessed having extorted 950,000 FCFA from two families in Douala after abducting their daughters. He said a certain Tatang Edith is the last person they abducted in Yaounde and collected 400,000 FCFA ransom from her family.

Major Danzabe urged the population and families whose relatives have been abducted to stop paying ransom. 

“I advise against sending money to people you don't know, especially to those who kidnap for ransom,” Major Danzabe reiterated. He asked especially married women to be vigilant.

Victim narrates ordeal

Tatang, a trader, told reporters that she met one of the suspects, Koppa Williams, a married man with three kids through Facebook messenger. Tatang said she turned down a love proposal from the suspect but accepted to engage in a business deal with him.

She added that Koppa later asked her to meet him at Ekounou and when she got there, the suspect told her she has been kidnapped. Koppa, she said, asked her to strip naked and she was later tied up, filmed and the video sent to her family.

Tatang continued that she was released after three days and she traced her way back home to Mbankolo. With the assistance of her husband, Dadjo Yvelin, and gendarme officers, she said they traced the suspects to Ekounou and arrested them.

Suspects speak out

One of the suspects, Koppa, denied kidnapping Tatang Edith. He said they were in a romantic relationship and planned the entire kidnapping so they could make some money. 

Koppa said after they were done, Tatang left and returned with officers, claiming she had been kidnapped. 

The other suspect, Noubissi Mathieu, sided with Koppa, stating that Tatang gave her consent to be tied up and filmed.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3360 of Wednesday February 5, 2025