Douala Tit-bits:9-Year-Old Kidnapped For Ransom

By Joe Dinga Pefok

A nine-year-old boy, Fred Raymond Ekum, was October 8, in Douala, kidnapped by a gang as he was returning home from school, in the "Upper Class" residential quarter of Bonamoussadi.

The kidnappers, who later contacted the boy's parents by phone, demanded FCFA 20 million as ransom or else… Fortunately, the boy's parents working in collaboration with the 12th Police District at Bonamoussadi foiled the kidnappers' heinous scheme.

The police managed to trace their hideout and raided it in the night of October 9, rescuing Ekum. Four suspects, including a woman, are now cooling their feet in the cells of the 12th Police District, as the police continue with their investigation. The suspect kidnappers are expected to face the music soon.

Heart-broken Wives Attempt Suicide

Two housewives in Douala III, apparently devastated by their hussies' infidelity and jilting, recently attempted taking away their lives by their own hands. It was reported that on October 7, one Annie Njomo of 'Comita` quarter, broke down when she discovered that her husband was not only cheating on her, but was doing it with a well known whore in the quarter.

The heart-broken Annie then went for a detergent, (l`eau de javel) to put her heart at peace. She reportedly guzzled a huge quantity of the liquid. Fortunately or unfortunately, she was discovered before the poison had taken effect and rushed to the Laquintinie Hospital.

Then, in the night of October 8 in 'Teregal` quarter, another heart-broken housewife, Senge Motou, allegedly tried to hang herself because her husband had abandoned her with the children at home, and gone to live with a concubine. It is alleged that Senge was pregnant and was living under very difficult conditions.

On the fateful night, Senge had already tied a noose around her neck and it was beginning to strangle her, when her 13-year-old daughter discovered her. The child's screams immediately drew neighbours to the scene, who quickly cut off the rope and rushed Senge to hospital.   

DO Cautioned Against Fighting Political Battles

Wouri SDO, Bernard Okalia Bilai, while installing the new DO for Douala I, Jean Claude Etoa Mballa, on October 7, cautioned him to guard against people who will pretend to make friends with him, when their real intention is to use him to fight political battles.

The DO was also advised to be vigilant, in a bid to, among other things, guard against agents of division, who will show up pretending to be advisers or informants. In addition, the DO was urged to work to preserve social peace and to fight against corruption. The 49-year-old Mballa replaced Pascal Mbozo`o.

Littoral Contributes 65 Percent To Tax Revenue

It was disclosed at the Open Day at the Littoral Provincial Service of Taxes in Bonanjo, Douala, on October 8 that as much as 65 percent of national tax revenue comes from the province alone. The province hosts the nation`s economic capital (Douala), the industrial town of Edea and the main seaport.

The occasion was the launching ceremony of the Littoral I and II Services presided over by the Economic Affairs Adviser at the Littoral Governor's office. However, the Littoral I Chief of Taxes, Christophe Atangana Essimi, said whereas there are some business operators in Douala who pay their taxes regularly and promptly, there are others who don't pay until pressure is brought to bear on them.

He said the biggest headache is the informal sector where many businessmen evade taxes. As regards the claim that the Littoral provides the bulk of tax revenue, observers say the statistic of 65 percent is debatable, because there are known cases of big companies that operate mainly in the East and Southwest Provinces, but which for reasons best known to them or government, pay their taxes in Douala.