A gunman suspected of having stolen a Toyota Rav 4 car (blue) has been arrested. S.M. Meba, reportedly member of a three-man gang and an escapee of the Douala New Bell Prison, was taken into custody at about 2 am Monday, September 3, 2013 at the Essengue neighbourhood.

Security men of the Mobile Intervention Unit No 2, who nabbed Meba during a routine patrol in the area, say he was also passing for a military officer. It is reported that the men of the underworld were in the Rav 4 car with number plate LT-728-AD. When they saw the policemen they took off at high speed.

Led by the Commander of the 2nd Company of the GMI No. 2, Emmanuel Ekwoge, the security team chased the bandits. Two of them disappeared through the mangrove forest into the waters of the Wouri River with the car keys while S.M. Meba was nabbed.

The suspect as well as the car and other items are in custody in Bonanjo. Two ID cards bearing the names of Frederick Ekobo and Francis Ewodou Elate were found inside the car as well as a driver's licence owned by the same Frederick Ekobo. Two rod cutters, 2 masks and 2 mobile phones were also found in the car. A message in one of the telephones found in the car read, "Meba already has the gun, be alert to launch the operation".

Upon verification with the Douala New Bell Prison authorities, the two other suspects Frederick Ekobo and Francis Ewodou are also escapees of that detention centre serving different terms for armed robbery.