Togo: Togolese police deactivates a gang of criminals operating in the Lomé region

National security is essential to a country’s stability and prosperity. In Togo, the Ministry of Security and its law enforcement agencies are unfailingly determined to protect the population against all criminal threats. A recent operation carried out by the Togolese National Police is tangible proof of this.

Last week, the National Police succeeded in apprehending four individuals who were part of a criminal gang operating in and around the city of Lomé, mainly on the Aného-Aflao road. The individuals, identified as B. Tétévi, B. Patrice, K. Akoété, and D. Prosper, all Togolese nationals, had spread terror by robbing passengers of their belongings in taxis.

Their modus operandi was well established. They operated in teams, offering public transport services to targeted passengers. Once in the taxi, they would deliberately create an uncomfortable situation to distract their victim, then rob them of their belongings. Once the crime had been committed, the driver would ask the passenger to leave the vehicle on the pretext that there were police on the road or that they could no longer continue the journey on that route. The criminals would then leave the unsuspecting victim, who would only discover the theft after they had left.

However, thanks to the efficiency and determination of the Togolese law enforcement agencies, this gang of criminals was neutralised. The four individuals will be brought before the Public Prosecutor at the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Lomé to answer for their criminal acts.

The Togolese National Police calls on the population to remain vigilant and to continue to collaborate with the law enforcement and defence forces. This successful operation demonstrates the commitment of the Togolese Ministry of Security to guarantee the safety of all citizens and to ensure that criminals are held to account for their actions.

Tabitha