Tricycle operators accuse Police, Illegal revenue collectors of extortion
Tricycle operators, otherwise called Keke operators, in Onitsha metropolis, Anambra State, have alleged arbitrary extortion of money by some illegal revenue agents and policemen attached to Okpoko, Awada, Central Police Station, (CPS) Onitsha.
The leadership of the Tricycle (Keke) operators alleged that both the police and the illegal revenue collectors rake over two million (N2, 000, 000. 00) from their members daily.
Spokesman of Keke operators, Emeka Ohaekelam, who led the aggrieved Keke operators when they besieged Awada Police Divisional Headquarters Onitsha last week, alleged that the development may throw the state in anarchy if not properly addressed by the authorities concerned as it was already gradually escalating with many of the operators withdrawing their services throughout last week to protest the impunity.
Recall that the Governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano, slashed the daily tolls paid by the tricycle operators as a way of cushioning the effect of recession on them and other artisans in the state.
However Ohaekelam said that this directive from the Governor was totally not observed as Police and illegal revenue collectors had field day extorting Keke operators.
The spokesman alleged that from Electrical market, Obosi via Onitsha-Owerri road, through Izuchukwu motor park junction, Upper Iweka road to Onitsha Main Market terminal point, they were forced to pay to over 20 suspected illegal revenue paying points manned by touts who claimed to be working for the state government.
He said Keke operators were allegedly forced with dangerous weapons to pay N100 per a trip and failure to comply attracted inflicting of injuries on the particular operator and sometime total damaging of such victim’s tricycle even under the watch of the police.
The spokesman of the Keke operators during the protest at Awada Police Station, reeled out the names of the masterminds of the extortion.
The operators complained bitterly over their alleged oppression by both the police and the illegal revenue agents believed to be sponsored by the political enemies of Governor Willie Obiano.
It was however learnt that the miscreants who claimed to be working for the state government have inflicted degrees of injuries on some members of Keke operators in course extorting money from them. Some Police Officers were said to be shielding these criminal element” in their illegal and wicked act.
When contacted, the DPO in-charge of Awada Police Station, CSP R. B Adewuyi, confirmed that the protest by the Keke operators but said the police state was not the right place to channel their grievances.
He said he warned the protesting Keke Operators that they should rather disperse because protest without Police permit was an offence because they have no right to disturb other citizens.
