Aline T, recently assaulted in a taxi

Aline T., shopping at the central market in Yaoundé, was assaulted in a taxi that she took at Messassi, her place of residence, a week ago.

That day, she retrieved the sum of 500,000 francs and after she completed the what she had to do, the young lady boarded a taxi. Instead of the driver to take the right way, he takes the opposite direction making Aline T. believe that he wants to avoid traffic jams.

"I suddenly found myself in a dark place and the driver stopped the vehicle and two strangers came out of nowhere and pounced on me. One of them was beating my fists and tried at all costs to push his fingers into my eyes while the other and the driver, stripped me of all my goods", the victim recounts.

In total, 500 000 F, mobile phones and jewellery were taken from her. After that, the three criminals abandoned the victim to fate and fled.

In the same light, Bernard M. almost fell in same situation but he was saved thanks to his vigilance. He recounts: "it was 10 p.m. that day and I went to a wedding. At dawn, I decided to take a taxi for deposit. After a few meters of traffic, I found that the driver had changed direction. When I made the observation, he accelerated the vehicle without saying a word. So I had the reflex to open the door and at this time he stopped the car. I took the opportunity to run for my life and he chased me armed with a knife in hand. Fortunately there was a gas station not far away and I had to take refuge and he turned back."

He explains that in most cases, "victims are surprised and don't have the time to take down the number and badge of the driver. He adds that: "cases where the attackers are arrested are those where the victim had the presence of mind to take down the registration plate of the vehicle or the driver badge."

Police however prescribed to victims and to all users of taxis to always make sure that the vehicle wears a badge and has a registration and door number.