Cameroon Taxi Drivers Association President Pepouna Mama Bakayoko made a statement to the AA correspondent about the taxi driver murders committed in Yaounde in recent months.
Stating that the bodies of 35 taxi drivers were found in the deserted areas of Yaounde in the last two months, Bakayoko stated that the search for the 3 missing taxi drivers continues.
Bakayoko emphasized that they are working together with the security forces and said that 8 suspects have been detained so far and their interrogations are continuing.
Pointing out that taxi drivers have been having a hard time in the last 2 months, Bakayoko said, “Our taxi drivers are kidnapped by bandits who get into their vehicles as customers, they are taken to deserted parts of the cities, their valuables and vehicles are taken, and then they are killed at the scene or they are left to die with their hands and feet tied.” he said.
“WE ARE NOT SAFE ANYMORE”
Cameroonian Taxi Driver Boyudu Josef said that he has been driving a taxi for 20 years to earn a living for his family. “We are not safe anymore,” Josef said. he said.
Emphasizing that he used to be able to work late at night, Josef said that he could not work late because he was afraid of not being able to return home after the taxi driver murders.
Another taxi driver, Nvondo Ludovic, also stated that many of his colleagues have lost their lives in recent days.
Ludovic stated that they can no longer accept everyone in their taxis and therefore their income has decreased, and said, “We want our state to help us urgently.” he said.
In Cameroon, where urban transportation is provided only by taxis, taxis are divided into two: classic and moto-taxi.
Although the daytime tariff of yellow classic taxis is 250 francs (13.90 Turkish lira) and the evening tariff is 300 francs (16.68 Turkish lira), the prices vary depending on the length of the road.
It is also possible to travel alone by paying approximately 2 dollars in taxis, where many people travel at the same time. (AA)