The exploratory trip to America by Gatineau residents Geneviève Plouffe and Martin Audette recently turned into a nightmare in Panama. The “Jajadabus” couple, as they call themselves on social media, were attacked on October 28 in their bus which serves as both a means of transport and a home.
It was around 10 p.m. Monday that the couple heard a knock on their door while they were listening to television on land near the locks of Miraflores.
There was a fake police officer with two other people. They asked Martin to open the door. He told them he couldn’t open the door because they weren’t real police. And then, suddenly, it started firing machine guns
says Geneviève Plouffe.
Looking for money and drugs
She explains that her partner tried to hold the door for several minutes before the attackers opened fire in the direction of their bus. Martin Audette was subsequently dragged out of the vehicle and beaten by several people, continues Ms. Plouffe.
The fifteen attackers were looking for money and drugs, according to Ms. Plouffe, who also claims to have been assaulted inside the bus.
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Gatineau residents Martin Audette and Geneviève Plouffe were on this bus when the attackers used a machine gun.
Photo: courtesy
Meanwhile, two men came home, one who found me next to the bed. He put the [pistolet] on the temple, pulled me by the hair. The other one came in and put the machine gun in my mouth […] while Martin was being beaten outside
she remembers.
The attackers finally decided to leave the scene after noticing that Mr. Audette had stopped reacting to the blows. Martin received six major hammer blows to the head with openings of 10 to 14 centimeters
says his partner.
Late arrival of help
Terrified, Geneviève Plouffe tried to call for help six or seven times during the events, but the line was cut in her face several times, she said.
According to her, the police finally showed up thirty minutes after the attack and the paramedics around four hours after the incident.
The Gatineau resident has since been hospitalized and the couple is currently in a safe place without their bus. His priority today is to recover from this event which has left its mark, particularly on his psychological health.
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Martin Audette was hospitalized in Panama.
Photo: courtesy
- was unable to obtain details from police in Panama.
In a written response, Global Affairs Canada confirms that it is aware of this matter. Consular officers provide consular assistance. For confidentiality reasons, no further information can be disclosed
we can read.
Global Affairs Canada regularly informs Canadians about risk areas around the world on its website, but Geneviève and Martin were not in an area that was the subject of an alert.
Geneviève Plouffe does not want their mishap to discourage people who want to travel: We were in the wrong place at the wrong time
she said.
She recommends that travelers be careful when traveling abroad and know the emergency numbers of the country where they are.
With information from Anne-Charlotte Carignan and Emmanuelle Poisson
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