Limbe Robbery Turns Deadly: Police Gun Down Armed Bandit in Church Street Pursuit

According to eyewitness reports and police accounts, two men arrived at the QUIFEUROU store on a motorcycle, posing as customers. Their calm demeanor initially fooled shopkeepers, but minutes after entering, they revealed their true intent. Weapons drawn, they raided the shop and escaped with what authorities describe as “a significant amount of cash and goods.”

Their escape, however, was cut short.

Police units already on high alert responded swiftly. A chase ensued, punctuated by bursts of gunfire. One of the suspects was hit in the chest and collapsed in the street, dying on the spot. The other, who was operating the getaway motorcycle, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg but managed to flee into surrounding streets, setting off a full-scale manhunt.

As of this report, elite units of the Gendarmerie and the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) have been deployed to track down the injured fugitive, whose identity remains unknown.

Residents in the area reported panic and confusion as the shootout unfolded. "We thought it was fireworks at first," said a vendor nearby. "Then people started screaming and running when we saw the man fall."

Security sources say this attempted robbery is part of a growing trend of motorbike-enabled crimes across major towns in Cameroon’s coastal and urban centers. Limbe, known more for its beachside calm and tourism potential, has seen a recent spike in petty and organized crime.

Authorities have urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, and to report any sightings of suspicious individuals, especially those with gunshot wounds seeking medical assistance in private clinics or informal settings.

Are security forces winning the fight against urban armed banditry?
What preventive measures can local businesses in Limbe take to avoid being targeted?
Should there be stricter controls on commercial motorcycle movement in high-risk areas?
How can community policing play a stronger role in stopping such attacks before they unfold?