Côte d’Ivoire : Spectacular robbery in Abidjan 4 days before the CAN

In Ivory Coast, everything is set for the start of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) on January 13. While the lively atmosphere in the streets reflects the excitement of the competition and a comprehensive security apparatus is deployed throughout the country, an event has caused concern among the populace. On Tuesday, January 9, residents of Marcory Sicogi, a neighborhood in Abidjan, witnessed a daylight robbery.

A person walking down the street was fatally shot by an armed individual in the midst of traffic, who then disappeared with the briefcase the victim was carrying.

According to eyewitness accounts, the thief was on a motorcycle with an accomplice who waited for him to complete the crime before fleeing together. Faced with the victim’s insistence on not letting go of the briefcase, the robber fired several close-range shots, ultimately ending the victim’s life as they collapsed in the middle of the road.

In their escape after the robbery, the two criminals were hit by a car. The incident, occurring just days before the opening of the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2023), calls on law enforcement to intensify their vigilance to better protect individuals present for the competition.

Justine Akolatsey