Atanga Nji Makes Bamenda Bike Riders Swear on Bible, Koran to Fight Kidnapping and Crime

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By Martial Gnoukapasir 
Minister Paul Atanga Nji handing a Bible to the president of Bamenda Bike Riders Association

Commercial motorbike riders in Bamenda have sworn on the Bible and the Holy Koran to stay away from criminal activities and help restore order in their sector.

The oath was administered during a meeting with Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji at Up Station on Monday, October 5, during his three-day working visit to Bamenda. 

The minister provided copies of the Bible for Christian riders and the Holy Koran for Muslim riders as part of the exercise, calling on those who showed up at the meeting to take the two Holly Books to their colleagues to swear by them, base on their faith.

The over 400 bike riders who attended the meeting, pledged to help weed out individuals using motorbikes to facilitate crimes, including kidnapping for ransom, torture, rape and banditory.



Minister Atanga Nji warned that riders who fail to honour the oath could face serious consequences, saying those who violate their commitment would “die after 30 days.”

Minister Atanga Nji said government considers commercial motorbike riders as partners in business, but stressed that such a partnership can only work if there is discipline and civility within the sector.

A cross section of bike riders at the event

From security reports, which he said had been presented to him, nearly 300 cases of kidnapping for ransom have been recorded in Bamenda in recent months. Kidnappings that have resulted to several killed and others  maimed. Attrocities which are carried out with the aid of motorbikes.

“These atrocities must stop,” Minister Atanga said, while introducing new measures that must be respected to ensure this.

The minister said the period for sensitisation and education was over, warning that the time had come for stronger measures against those who refuse to comply with regulations.

He referred to a 2023 ministerial order which gave the bike riders’ syndicate one year to organise the sector through registration and identification. Unfortunately, only about 20 percent of riders have so far complied. Which is not acceptable.

One of the key measure he announced, to ensure order in the sector compels motorbike vendors to verify the identity documents of buyers before selling motorcycles. He insisted that vendors must declare their stock and ensure that motorbikes obtained from them leave their shop after proper registration, identified with a matriculation number and number plate.

Minister Paul Atanga Nji addressing the bike riders outside the MINEPAT Hall in Bamenda

To encourage the process, the minister paid for 100 matriculation numbers to be distributed to selected riders through the president of the Bamenda Bike Riders Union.

The minister also ordered all commercial bike riders in Bamenda to identify themselves through numbered jackets.

Riders operating in Bamenda I will wear a specific colour, while those in Bamenda II will have another colour. Riders in Bamenda III will also have a distinct colour different from those used in the other two subdivisions. He supported the riders with 400 of these jackets which were handed to the city mayor Paul Achobong, for onward distribution to the bike riders. The measure is also intended to make identification and monitoring of riders easier.

In another major measure aimed at preventing kidnappings, Minister Atanga Nji ordered commercial motorbike riders to carry only one passenger at a time. He said most kidnap cases occur with two or more persons on the bike and in most cases, the victim is often placed in the middle.

The minister warned that riders who violate the new regulations will face the full force of the law, while calling on the local authorities to facilitate the registration and identification process for bike riders who come up to them for help.

“Time for education and sensitization is over. It is time for warning and punishment for those who will not abide by these regulations,” the minister said.

He further cautioned those who may attempt to circumvent the identification process by purchasing motorcycles from other regions and sneak them into Bamenda. Those who'll be caught in such act, will face a double punishment, Atanga Nji said.

Administrative, Local and security elements at the meeting with bike riders in Bamenda

Minister Atanga Nji Paul, tasked the administrative and local authorities in the region, to work closely with the security forces in ensuring that the measures adopted should be strictly implemented.

Paul Atanga Nji, maintained that Cameroon is a state of law and so those operating in it, be it bike riders among others, must respect the regulations in the interest of peace, order, unity and tranquility.

He supported the over 400 bike riders with CFA 10,000 francs each, alongside a bag of rice for each rider.


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