Organisers also used the three-month exercise to urge members to regularise their papers.

As part of efforts to combat the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the country, the recently created National Union of Peri-urban and Rural Drivers, whose members were formerly known as ‘clando’ or ‘opep’ drivers, have in recent months been sensitising colleagues on how to help fish out Boko Haram suspects.

The union held a rally at the Camair Garage in downtown Yaounde on September 24, 2014, to end their awareness campaign in the Centre Region that lasted from May to August 2014. According to the President, Essomba Prosper Aimé, about 7,000 members were identified and sensitised in all 10 divisions of the Centre Region. The city of Yaounde alone boasts 63 branches in the different garages. Plans are underway to take the campaign to the remaining regions soon.

The group, since its creation last March, has brought ‘clando’ driving out of its illegality tag by ensuring that members acquire personal and vehicle papers, while untrained ones go to driving school. This, the Secretary General, Owoutou Moïse, pointed out, will help in generating more funds for State coffers. The group plans to register as a trade union and computerise its membership registry. Members have also been debriefed on road safety.

The concluding sensitisation campaign, which was attended by representatives of various security agencies, ended with a vote of thanks to President Paul Biya for his relentless fight against Boko Haram.