DO bans bikes in Kumba I

The Divisional Officer, DO, for Kumba I, Meme Southwest Region, Charles Fumumbod Duala, has suspended the circulation of commercial motorbikes within the administrative area of Kumba.

A Prefectural Order to this effect restricts commercial motorbikes from riding in the entire Up Station area between 9pm and 5am daily. Defaulters of the June 25, 2014 order No o28/214, according to the Administrator shall be sanctioned in line with the laws pertaining to the offence.

Bike riders in the Kumba metropolis now have their designated riding routes limited to the Divisional Delegation of Labour and Social Security Meme. The entire Station area remains the administrative seat of Meme Division, harbouring Delegations of key Government Ministries and the Kumba principal prison.

The Post gathered that, the decision comes in place as a move to strengthen Government’s numerous actions towards tracking the activities of the dreaded Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram. Besides, the action, this reporter learnt that it has been realized that commercial bike riders have been conniving with some civilians to facilitate the escape of detainees from the prison yard.

Before the administrative decision on sanctioning the riding of bikes in the same area, another decision from the prison Superintendent had equally called for vigilance. The said communiqué from Superintendent Pekwereke Amido of the Kumba principal prison equally targeted bikes and motor taxis around the prison premises within certain periods of the day.

Reacting to the ban on bike riding within the administrative area at night, John Mungwa, a commercial bike rider, described the move as less significant given that very few people live in the area.

Another bike rider, Lucas Pende, told The Post that if the reason is to maintain public peace and security then the order should never be repealed given that everybody needs peace including the bike riders themselves.

Juliana Nong, a commuter who resides within the Up Station area, saluted the move as she said that there have been uncontrollable acts of theft within the area. Ngong explained that, when thieves are chased away, bike riders easily zoom off to town with them making some people to see motorcyclist as key accomplice to crime in the area.