By Kini Nsom
The Deputy Minister of Mines, Water Resources and Energy of the SDF Shadow Cabinet, Johnson Tabi, was recently arrested and detained at the Ngoussou Gendarmerie Brigade in Yaounde for allegedly being part of a gang that is specialised in car theft.
According to gendarmerie sources, gendarmes picked up Tabi after one of the alleged bandits that had earlier been arrested said he was one of them. The gendarmes also arrested Messi Medard, Aboubakar Youyimda Ngoue Ngoue and Dieudonné Avom. The trio is being detained at the Kondengui Prison while Johnson Tabi was released after three days of detention for lack of enough incriminating evidence against him.
The Post learnt that gendarmes dismantled the gang due to a tip off by one of the victims, a taxi-man whose vehicle was stolen on February 1. In his complaint to the gendarmes, the victim hinted that a certain Messi Medard, who turned out to be the gang leader, is a notorious car thief.
After two days, gendarmes intercepted a taxi at the Ngoussou neighbourhood that was suspected to have been stolen. The driver of the taxi revealed to gendarmes that the vehicle belongs to one Aboubakar Youyimda Ngoue Ngoue. In order to attract the owner of the taxi into their dragnet, the gendarmes took Youyimda's phone number from the driver and called him.
They reportedly told him that his taxi knocked down a school child and had been impounded at the brigade. When he came, gendarmes interrogated him and established that he is a suspected car bandit. Besides, the gendarmes conducted a thorough search in the taxi and found the documents of another car matriculated CE 8199W in it.
After gendarmes meticulously grilled Youyimda Ngoue Ngoue, he revealed the names of his partners who use fake car keys to steal any car they wanted. Following this information, the gendarmes apprehended Messi Medard at his Etoa-Meki neighbourhood. Dieudonné Avom and Johnson Tabi were later picked up that same day.
The Post learnt that a stolen taxi was discovered in one of the compounds in which one of the suspected thieves was living. It was said to have been well hidden in front of one of the fenced apartments in the neighbourhood. The gendarmes confiscated some "magic" car keys that could start any engine from the bandits.
The suspected SDF Minister was released after media reports had recorded him as one of the suspected bandits. He was paraded on the screen of Canal 2 television with a name tag over his neck as being part of the gang that is specialised in car theft.
When The Post contacted him over the phone in the evening of February 24, he denied being part of the gang. He said he was arrested because he attempted buying a stolen car without knowing.To him, the gendarmes could not have released him if they did not discover that he is innocent.
Tabi was, however, not clear as to what he would do to bring back his soiled image.When contacted by phone, SDF officials expressed surprise at the development, saying they know Johnson Tabi is an honest gentleman with a credible reputation.
Fru Ndi Reacts
Reacting to the bad name government officials are giving to the party, SDF Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi called on militants to stand strong despite the distractions from the ruling CPDM. He called on the youths to copy the example of one Augustine Fon Overjie who has has suffered several arrests and brutality from the forces of law and other but still stood committed to the party.
Overjie, Fru Ndi said while in detention, still wrote and briefed the hierarchy on happenings about the party. Fru Ndi as SDF Communication Secretary in Tiko, no one can say this militant didn't do his job. The chieftain called on other militants who have had similar difficult situation to be more committed.
Many SDF militants have suffered like this and have always fleed the country for safety in the diaspora. Some are languishing in jail while others have died while in detention.
This is how the Government always tarnish the reputation of the opposition. Its even worse for those that are in the lower ranks of the party who can easily be arrested like Augustine Fon Overjie.
It is widely known that the Government has done so many arrest and torture on him for no good reason.
We of the opposition are hoping that things get better one day.
Posted by: Orock Manyi | Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 02:36 PM
The Biya regime will do everything to soil the opposition. Enough is enough. Especially during this period of up coming elections, they will go an extra mile to subdue the SDF. I think the CPDM should first start by making the electoral commission to be independent than going on arresting innocent citizens. It is through this method of intimidation that have caused people like Augustine Overjie to leave the country for safety. We pray that wherever he is he should be safer
Posted by: Puwa Valentine | Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 02:43 PM