Traders of the Douala central market have accused the market administration of being responsible for the several burglary cases.
The traders told reporters in the city that funds destined for security in the markets have been embezzled as no measures put in place to curb the security threads.
The First Vice President of the Douala Central Market Traders Union, Konate Abdelaziz said
“we traders don’t understand how robberies are taking place in the market whereas we pay 2000 FRS to the market master monthly – funds which after investigations, are not being paid into the public treasury.”
Konate insisted that “these are funds that are normally supposed to be used to secure traders and enable us to carrying on our activities in total serenity.”
The traders said despite multiply distress calls from them and buyers of the Douala central market, the risk of getting robbed by armed bandits on broad day light remains very high.
Due to the absence of security guarantees, a vendor said they always on the alert to run away from invaders at any moment.
The recent phenomenon in the market is greatly affecting the normal flow of activities.
“Because of this certain customers instead want us to go deliver the articles to their respective locations. Imaging that us the traders are not in security in the market what more of the customers.” a businessman explained.
Franky Nzepa, Secretary General of the Douala Central Market Traders Union, believes that these criminal activities in the market are being masterminded by some men of the underworld and even former inmates who recently benefited from recent presidential clemency.
“They enter the markets armed with weapons, move from shop to shop aggressing traders and clients.” Nzepa explained adding that;
“having a young man appear in front of you with a knife, a firearm, or other sharp weapon is a daily occurrence.”
Frustrated by the inaction of market authority, the traders have formed a self-defence task force.
They say they are determined to take the defence from the men of the underworld into their hands.
At the level of the syndicate, its Secretary General informed reporters that;
“we’re also looking at how to form a partnership with forces of law and order to be organising routing patrols in the market in civilian attires” Franky Nzapy narrated.
Meanwhile, sources close to the Douala city council said there are imminent plans to recruit some young Cameroonians to join the Municipal police forces in a bid to reinforce security in all the markets within its jurisdiction.
