Pahou: motorcycle robbery gang operating between Pahou, Tori, Allada and Cotonou dismantled

Four individuals were arrested on Friday, August 21, 2026, by officers from the Pahou district police station (Ouidah commune), putting an end to a series of assaults targeting motorcycle-taxi drivers.

The case dates back to Thursday, August 13, 2026. On that day, a motorcycle-taxi driver picked up two passengers at the Pahou market junction bound for Ouidah. On reaching the area near Vassého, by the tractor factory, the two passengers assaulted the driver, threatening him with a machete before stealing his Bajaj motorcycle and fleeing.

When filing his complaint, the victim gave investigators a decisive clue: before setting off, the two attackers had greeted acquaintances near the Pahou market. Armed with this information pointing to the suspects’ local roots, police officers stepped up their searches and surveillance in the area.

Robbers arrested, confess to several thefts

On Friday, August 21, 2026, at around 5 pm, a patrol from the Pahou police station spotted and intercepted two suspicious individuals. A search of their bags turned up a machete matching in every respect the weapon used in the August 13 assault.

Having confessed during questioning, the two suspects admitted to stealing the Bajaj motorcycle at Vassého. They also admitted to carrying out several similar assaults between Pahou, Tori and Allada. Their method involved robbing motorcycles in these localities before offloading them in Cotonou.

Receivers arrested in Cotonou, facing prosecution

Investigations immediately shifted to Cotonou, where police arrested the network’s two receivers. They admitted to regularly buying stolen motorcycles at low prices for resale.

All four suspects are currently being held in custody at the Pahou police station. Their files are being finalised for referral to the public prosecutor at the Ouidah court of first instance.