Bamenda: bike riders threaten to stage protest over extortion by authorities

Bike riders in Bamenda in the North West region have announced a strike action over excesses allegedly committed by authorities .

They have promised to down their tools beginning next week.

Authorities in the town, they say are exploiting them for financial gains by impounding their motorbikes.

Though the officials confiscate the motorbikes because some riders lack all required documents, they say the amount required to reclaim them is too exorbitant.

With close to a hundred bikes impounded daily against a 50.000FCFA fee, Henry, one of the riders says they believe enough is enough. Noting that the riders all have families to feed, “What becomes of them?” He asks.

“I am a rider but for fear of seizure i packed and many others too” he tells MMI. The riders he says “plan to rally at the Governor’s office come Tuesday” adding that “bikes may not work on Tuesday and Wednesday.”

As part of security measures in the fight against separatist fighters, administrative authorities earlier had set some restrictions regarding the operation of motorbikes in the region. Combined with the current health pandemic, the riders say they are bearing the weight of the hardship while officials enrich themselves.

MMI