From
Bakah Derick/Nfor Abduraman in Bamenda
First Published by The Guardian Post Daily
Every year, the half of August is always good business time for transporters.
Every year, the half of August is always good business time for transporters.
Thousands
have stormed travel agencies and other parks in Bamenda not for back to school
reasons but to flee a looming lockdown announced by separatist leaders.
Mile two
Nkwen host to a lead inter urban transporter in Cameroon and other small
transporters to other towns of the NW, travellers are everywhere in need of
transport services not into other parts of the region but out of the region.
Their stories are almost the same like that of Jaav Gabrella from Kai in Bui
Division seating with her two kids beside two bags of Irish potatoes and other
food stuff and three other travellers
bags.
“I came from Kumbo on Friday morning after
paying 13000F for transportation and spending 9000F to settle the boys on the
way. It was not easy reaching Bamenda. I am going to Yaounde to meet my elder
sister. My two children you see here have not gone to school for three years
and I can’t keep them at home anymore. I have been asked to 16000 for two seats
to Yaounde and 5000F for my bags; that is 21000F. This is money I was keeping
hoping that schools will resume so can pay fee for my children but with the lockdown
I am hearing and other things I have seen in the village I cannot stay.” She
said almost in tears.
Close to her
is Carine (We keep her surname for her security). She was a teacher in Belo
Subdivision. She is moving to Douala after a visit to her community where she
was accused of coming to start school. She is kept in a camp and nurtured. She
shows me wounds on her legs and arms saying some are inside and behind her back.
Almost in
tears she tells me “I am in very serious pain Sir. I have had the worst
experience in my life. I am a teacher by profession but should I escape my
village because I am a teacher?” she cries for a few minutes then added “I only
went home to see my grandmother who is not well and also to take care of her
farm and mine. I spent five days in a forest sleeping on the ground and being
tortured again. I managed to get to Bamenda so I could get some money and try
to treat myself. When I went to the hospital I was told I will be admitted but
with the coming lockdown I can’t stay in town because it will not be possible
for someone to bring me food or for me to go get something myself. I am going
to meet by brother in Sagmalima where I will get treatment.”
As we speak
to these women, there is no vehicle ready to transport them at the moment but
they have paid their transport fair almost double what is normally collected.
They have waited for almost seven hours and may still wait longer. Kids are
falling asleep and waking up, demanding food and toilet facilities. The parents
themselves are hungry but they have to provide for the kids in an environment
where they must buy everything.
The loaders
have a lot of Work to do to manage the many bags and other items being
transported by the fleeing population. Cars are forced to carry more than
usual. Like structured travel agencies so too are makeshift parks.
At finance
Junction in Bamenda, transporters increase the transport to Bafoussam at
intervals depending on who is watching and what who is caring. It is an
alternative to escape now with the influx at travel agencies.
“I went to
Moghamo, Vatican, Guarantee and Nso Boys and could not see a vehicle for
Douala. So I had to come here (Finance Junction) to take a vehicle for
Bafoussam from where I will try to get one from Dauala. I have paid 3000 FRS
for myself and 2000 FRS for my bags.” The teacher who will not want to be named
tells us adding “I have to leave here massa, every day they call you to give
money for some struggle you give to buy your head and today they say they want
to lock us indoors for God knows how long and you thing I should stay?”
The
transporters we contacted refused to make a statement on or justify the
increase in transport fare claiming that they were not aware of such increase.
At other
travel agencies around City Chemist round about in Bamenda, many cue up for
tickets. They look far more than the available buses at the station at the time
of our visit. Then Fru Jackson a trader in Bamenda on the ticket cue tells us “Derick if I will
enter the boat and leave this place I will have to. I don’t care what the cost
is. Even for three days I can’t stay home again. I have not recovered from the
February lock down and I can’t do another.” As to whether he is coming back, he
responded “I f that lockdown holds I will not come back here again. I will look
for a house and transfer my wife and kids and transfer my business. Even this
Money should be removed. I respected Monday, they kidnapped me and said I was
not paying taxes thanks to them and collected almost 500,000FRS from me or they
will kill me and my family. Bro what will I do. I don’t even speak French how
will I survive in Douala? I have no choice I can’t seat I watch my family
suffer like this. I have worked very hard for them.”
No statement
has been made by the administration on this Mass movement neither have those
who declared the lockdown people are fleeing from said a word. The argument is
instead over whose own is the right one not that it should be cancelled.