Outrage erupted on board an Aveni Agency bus bound for Douala after passengers were left stranded in Loum with no explanation from the driver or conductor.
“We are stranded here in Loum after the driver and the conductor just vanished,” said a frustrated passenger, who wished to remain anonymous. “They haven’t even bothered to tell us what’s happening!”
According to the passenger, the ordeal began with a delayed departure from Aveni Park in Foumban. They allege the driver repeatedly stopped along the route to pick up additional passengers, significantly extending the travel time.
“It was like a taxi picking up passengers on the roadside,” the passenger recounted.
Further concerns arose when the bus experienced a flat tyre along the Foumban and Koutaba road. The replacement, they claim, was equally concerning.
“It took almost an hour to change the tyre, and what worried me most was how worn-out it was,” they explained. “This is a huge safety risk! How can a reputable company like Aveni put passengers’ lives at stake with such tyres? And to make matters worse, the spare tyre was just as bad! They tried to hide the worse one inside the double tyres.”
The passenger went on to describe the driver’s disregard for speed limits, despite complaints from passengers. The situation reached a boiling point in Loum when the driver and conductor simply disappeared.
“We’ve been stuck here for nearly an hour with no explanation,” the passenger said. “Some people have managed to flag down passing vehicles and leave, but many of us have luggage locked in the compartments and can’t get to it without someone opening the bus.”
This incident highlights broader concerns about passenger safety and the responsibilities of transport companies in Cameroon.
“The authorities and these agencies need to take their jobs seriously,” the passenger concluded. “We deserve better!”
Efforts to reach Aveni Agency for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
