Joe Dinga Pefok
25 February 2008
Over 42,000 commercial motorcycle riders commonly called benskin riders have vowed to paralyse activities in the economic capital, Douala, today, Monday, February 25, to protest the continuous hike in the prices of fuel.
The benskin riders arrived at the decision after fuel prices soared to as high as FCFA 600 a litre. They complained that the price has made it impossible for them to break even in their business activities.
On February 21, a group of about 100 bendskin riders, some of whom carried placards, noisily rode round town, announcing their planned strike. They were however confronted at 'Rond Point' Deido, by a truckload of anti- riot policemen from the Mobile Intervention Unit, GMI, Bonanjo, who blocked the road.
In the violent confrontation that ensued, four people were wounded, with two of the victims belonging to each side. The local administration has since being holding series of emergency meetings with security officials, on how to tackle the planned strike.
The local administration is the more worried with the planned strike because the leaders of bendskin riders are not coming out clear, when they talk of no circulation in Douala on that day. Many are interpreting this to mean that the bendskin riders will not allow other urban transporters like taxis to circulate.
Meanwhile, in the morning of February 23, the SDO of Wouri, Bernard Atebede, hired a local publicity operator popularly known as Papa Douala, to go round town and propagate his message of appeal for peace and public order to Bendskin riders. But Papa Douala, had barely started his mission when a group of bendskin riders gave chase and caught up with him oposite former Hôtel Maturité at Mboppi.
The irate bendskin riders dragged him out of his publicity van, sucked out fuel from the tank of the van, and were just about setting fire on the vehicle, when gendarmes arrived and stopped them.
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