Buea taxi drivers call for vigilance as passengers become targets

Buea taxi drivers’ syndicates have cautioned city dwellers to be very vigilant when boarding taxis, following recent reports of passengers facing threats and attacks from some unscrupulous drivers.

In a communiqué signed by heads of the drivers’ syndicates, they acknowledged receiving disturbing information regarding the safety of passengers boarding taxis in Buea.

“We, the presidents of the Buea taxi drivers’ syndicate in Buea (SN Chautac, Synchcam, Syntracam, and Fadu Synatuircam), are calling on the population and users of taxis to be vigilant when booking a taxi during the day and at night,” the Syndicate leaders wrote.

“We are calling on the population and users of taxi drivers that during this period, which we are trying to fight this criminality plaguing our sector, we call on the full collaboration and support from the population and users of taxis.”

Before their communique, some audios had circulated online in which victims claimed Ambazonia Fighters had infiltrated the taxi sector in recent days, threatening civilians going about their normal activities.

Someone who claimed to be a victim in one of the voice notes claimed he boarded a taxi, and the driver warned him severely for travelling on a lockdown day.

The supposed victim said it was thanks to God’s grace that the driver did not harm him.

There are also reports about the forced disappearance of people who boarded taxis recently.

Worsened by Lockdown

These events are happening amid a two-week lockdown imposed by separatist fighters clamoring for a breakaway nation called Ambazonia.

The lockdown in the North West and South West regions has disrupted school resumption for the past one week and has paralysed economic activities in most towns.

Taxis that have managed to operate in Buea have been infiltrated by separatists whose aim is to enforce the lockdown.

Drivers’ syndicate leaders have asked those boarding taxis within this period to copy “down the matriculation number of the taxi, makes sure the taxi has a door number and it is boldly written, avoids taxis with dark tinted glasses, and makes sure before you enter a taxi you can see the driver.”

Since the start of the lockdown a week ago, the streets have remained scanty, and most people are indoors.

Separatists have imposed lockdowns on the English-speaking Regions since 2017. The lockdowns usually last for weeks during the first weeks of school resumption.

Njong Shey