By Zera Nambu
Drivers operating on the Bamenda Kom road have launched an indefinite strike starting Tuesday, April 7. The move, they say, is a protest against the rising wave of kidnappings, harassment, and extortion targeting both drivers and passengers, particularly in the Bambui and Babanki area.
The transporters say they will not return to work until authorities take action to secure the road.
A major point of concern is the “Alaji entrance” in Bambui, which has reportedly become a hotspot for armed men to intercept vehicles and drag passengers into the bush.
The strike follows a week of several attacks on drivers. One driver, who requested anonymity, recounted an incident from last Friday when nine people, five women and four men, including himself, were abducted and taken into the bush.
“They drained all the petrol from my car,” the driver said. He added that they were only released on Saturday afternoon after the women paid 50,000 francs CFA each and the men paid 100,000 francs CFA.
Similar incidents occurred on Sunday, where passengers were reportedly robbed of their phones and valuables, and forced to pay passage fees ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 CFA.
In a disturbing development, striking drivers have raised allegations of internal betrayal. Some drivers claim that some of their colleagues are collaborating with separatist fighters.
They allege that these drivers identify wealthy passengers and tip off gunmen to wait for specific vehicles.
Furthermore, the drivers expressed frustration with security forces stationed along the road. They alleged that some military personnel fail to intervene even when kidnappings happen at nearby junctions.
Last week, a separate military unit reportedly arrived from Fundong and temporarily seized the phones of soldiers stationed in Bambui.
According to one driver, this action was taken due to suspicions that some personnel were leaking information to armed groups to help them avoid attacks.
The Bamenda — Kom stretch is now considered one of the most dangerous corridors in the North West region, where years of armed conflict has given rise to rampant kidnappings.
Transporters say the strike is a cry for help to the government to address the total breakdown of security.
“We cannot continue to work just to pay ransoms,” another driver stated. “The inhabitants and the drivers are the ones suffering the most.”
The strike has left hundreds of passengers stranded in Kom as they couldn’t travel on Sunday due to the insecurity on the road.
The transport sector remains paralyzed until further notice.