Bamenda II D O Promises Repressive Measures On Recalcitrant Drivers.

By Raymond Dingana

The Divisional Officer for Bamenda II, Tanyi Akwo Roquecegnol has promised tougher days ahead for those who go against the measures put in place by government and the World Health Organization as far as limiting the spread of COVID-19 is concerned. The D O frowned at cab drivers whom he said still over load their vehicles there by disrespecting social distancing, a measure to lessen the spread of COVID-19. He said repressive measures will henceforth be accelerated on those who fail to respect the measures.

When asked what has been done to stop the extortion of land transporters by men in uniform given that, transporters have always blamed the overloading on the fact that, they are being extorted by security officials, Mr. Tanyi Roquecegnol indicated that, his office has not received any complain from drivers.

“It is easy to talk of extortion,  we have not received any complaint from the drivers on what so ever extortion from the security officers. Each time I have the opportunity to meet the driver syndicates, the information I give them is that, the security officials are there to protect them as they do their job and that, if there are any abuses, our offices are opened for these abuses to be reported. Avoiding overloading is something that should not be disputed; repressive measures have started and more than ever before, will continue”. 

Mr.Tanyi Akwo Roquecegnol, Divisional Officer, Bamenda II

      

According to a driver who is also a member of one of the drivers’ syndicates here in Bamenda, their worries have been tabled in many administrative offices including the office of the Divisional Officer for Bamenda II sub division. He said he was surprised to hear that, the divisional officer said his office is not aware of the extortion by security forces in his municipality and has never received any complaint from them. He even said that, on Friday April 09, 2020, one of the Syndicates known as the National Union of Workers of the Land Transport Sector-SYNESTER dropped two documents at his office.

He however hoped that, the Bamenda II D O’s office will not say tomorrow that, it has never received any document related to the extortion suffered by land transporters in the hands of security forces. He added that, if the extortion continues, overloading will continue and the consequence will be the spread of COVID-19.