Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cotonou (Fides Service)- Increasing crime is causing alarm in Benin. According to United Nations representatives, Benin’s fragile economy has led to an increase in acts of street banditry, robberies and armed theft .
The country’s roads are highly dangerous. Trucks and passenger cars risk being attacked and robbed by gangs of bandits ready to kill for a meagre booty.
The police is unable to deal with the situation and the government has decided to send troops to help fight road banditry.
IRIN UN agency said a local expert, sociologist Jean Luc Kuassi, blames the explosion of crime on a 25% rise in the prices of bread and fuel. “Prices of basic products, such as maize, have tripled in recent months” said the sociologist.
However Benin police chief Abassi Alle says growing criminality is due to the fact that it is easy to cross the Benin - Nigeria border: “Groups of bandits operating in Benin have bases half way between Benin and Nigeria so when they are hunted by the police they hide on the most convenient side of the border. Many of the gangs are part of well organised crime networks with referents in both countries”.
Benin also suffers from trafficking of child workers. Every year over 4,000 local children are sent to work in another country. “Benin is a crossroads for trafficking of minors in the region. Children from Togo are brought here on their way to work in plantations in Côte d'Ivoire or Nigeria” a missionary said. “This is only one of the many forms of trafficking which use our country as a base. Drugs and arms routes also pass through Benin”.
The criminals are well organised: before the children leave they are put all together in a collecting place where they are told how to behave at border and police check points. It is easy to convince them to collaborate: after all they are sent to work by their families” the missionary concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 3/11/2005 righe 31 parole 407)
