The Bakel department has once again been struck by insecurity. This Monday, six armed individuals intercepted a public transport vehicle on the Niéniekho-Mansacounda road, robbing the passengers of their belongings before disappearing into the surrounding area.

The isolation and poor condition of the roads continue to fuel crime in the Bakel department. Following recent attacks reported in the Gabou commune, the Sadatou commune has now been the scene of a violent robbery. The attack targeted a public transport vehicle traveling between Soréto and Tambacounda.

The six assailants, one of whom was heavily armed, took advantage of a particularly poor section of the road to immobilize the vehicle. With no cell phone service in this isolated area, the passengers were left completely at the mercy of the criminals in broad daylight.

The robbery resulted in a heavy toll for the victims: several cell phones were stolen, along with a total of 450,000 CFA francs. Even more unusual, but just as damaging, the assailants also made off with the driver's license.

The isolation of the locality considerably delayed the alert. It was only after traveling about a hundred kilometers that the driver was able to reach the local gendarmerie brigade in Diankemakhan to give his statement.

Upon being informed, the municipal authorities of Sadatou went to the scene to express their solidarity with the victims. This latest incident reignites the debate on the need to strengthen security presence and road infrastructure in this strategic border area.