Douala: Insecurity at the Cathedral

Douala is the centre of crime in Cameroon. Armed robbers attack victims even in broad daylight. No one is safe from these attacks. Banks, micro finance institutions and many households have scary stories to tell about ruthless gangs operating in Douala.  Even some supposedly safe areas in the city have not then spared.The “no-go” areas at night are many.

These include, but are not limited to, the Liberty Boulevard  located beside the St Peter and Paul Cathedral, the junction at the Old Customs Headquarters, Ndokoti, Douala Sea Port, the Bonabéri Bridge, Terminus, the high way leading to the Douala International Airport and Bilongue.

What is most astonishing, especially around areas like Boulevard de la Liberté, is not the presence of high way robbers as is the case other dangerous spots, but that some of these areas have been invaded by unemployed, homeless, and delinquent youths commonly referred to in the local parlance as” nanga-bokos”. What is even more astonishing is that, the most insecure place around Boulevard de la Liberté, is that situated some over 500 metres from the  yard of St Peter and Paul Cathedral in Douala. For those who have been to this area before, the distance that separates Cathedral from the nearest building, which is the head office of a big business venture in the economic capital, is less than 300 metres, from the main street but curiously remains one of the most insecure areas along the Boulevard de la Liberté road.

Christians robbed inside the Cathedral

In the house of God? That is the question many people repeatedly ask. Jean Epale, a Christian who worships  at the St Peter and Paul Cathedral regrets that the vicinity is very risky especially after 8 pm. Nlend Joseph another Christian who frequents the Cathedral says some days thieves begin attacking people around the area even before 6 pm.

However, both Christians agree that the graveyard, which is just directly opposite the Cathedral, the unoccupied land between the Cathedral and Bonjanjo and also the bush behind the Bishop’s House are the hideouts to many of the bandits. Some Christians say, quite often, people are attacked by street boys who either dash into the graveyard or a nearby bush after the attack. Nlend Joseph adds that quite often, the “nango-bokos” are so swift that they even attack Christians and snatch their bags when they are praying. He says the police sometimes carry out sporadic raids in this area. Shortly after this is done, people move about freely, but the hoodlums soon return. He also lauded the initiative of the Douala City Council to install streets light in the areas.

That notwithstanding, ma Cecile Eboua, an elder at the Cathedral says sometimes, street children come and destroy or disconnect the street lights not only at the Boulevard de la Liberté but in other parts of Douala.

Cathedral Parish Priest says even the State seems helpless

Fr Clement Ndjewel, Parish Priest of St Peter and Paul Cathedral, says he has been very preoccupied with the insecurity reigning around the Cathedral and its environs. According to him, insecurity in Douala is not only limited to the Cathedral but, but affects Douala as a whole. He alluded to the number of banks and financial institutions that are robbed daily in Douala in broad daylight. With regards to   insecurity around the vicinity of the Cathedral, he says this will continue to be the case, as long as the nearby Mbappe Lepe Stadium continues to be the hideout for bandits and street children. He admits that occasionally they receive assistance from the Central Police Unit in Bonanjo who carry out night patrols.

The prelate regrets the fact that even the State seems to be helpless in the face of the soaring crime wave and insecurity in Douala. Father Ndjewel strongly believes that only a political will and the personal commitment Cameroonians to fight crime can restore security in Douala and other major towns in Cameroon. When asked what could be done to ensure security in Douala, inhabitants said there is an urgent need to reinforce security in the city through the installation of streets lights in all dark areas of the town. Other areas like the Bonabéri Bridge, the highway leading to the Douala Airport and the Ndokoti round-about, have already been lighted. The presence of the Rapid Intervention unit in Douala has also contributed to the fight against the city’s high crime wave but the Douala population is complaining that the Rapid Intervention Forces are not responding to their calls for help.

In its defence, the police have justified their reaction by explaining that, most often, their vans do not have fuel and in some instances, they say, the bandits are better armed than they are. The major cause of insecurity in Douala has been attributed to unemployment. Some quarters like Grand Hangar in Bonaberi, have created vigilante groups to ensure the policing of their different quarters. 

By Aloysius Agendia