By Cajetan Mmuta
Anambra State Police Command on Wednesday denied reports in the media that two policemen who died during the gun duel between rival secret cult members in Awka the state capital were attached to the leader of the tricycle operators, identified as Snoop.
The command disclosed that the policemen were stationed at the junction of the Temporary Site of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka on Tuesday as part of the routine strategic operations before the heavy shooting by members of the rival cult groups which claimed the leader of the tricycle riders otherwise known as KeKe riders.
This is as scores of tricycle operators have staged a peaceful protest against alleged extortion, harassment, and incessant killings of their members in the state.
The protesters during the protest blocked the Ekwueme Square road leading to the Anambra state House of Assembly and the judiciary complex.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga who refuted the claim there was nothing like that as was alleged in some quarters.
Ikenga in a telephone interview with our Correspondent said that 21 persons suspected cultists involved in the fracas that led to the killing of two policemen, had been arrested and are helping the operatives in their discreet investigations.
It would be recalled that heavy shooting had erupted on Tuesday at the UNIZIK junction in Awka when rival cult groups engaged themselves in a bloody war.
He said, “We are already profiling them to ascertain their level of involvement in the incident. The command swung into action immediately after the incident, and so far, we have made arrests. We will keep you updated as we continue, and we promise you that the perpetrators of that crime will not go unpunished.”
However, the protesters with placards of various inscriptions alleged that acts of killing, extortion, and harassment were being perpetrated by suspected cultists engaged by some of the government officials in the name of revenue collections.
Coordinator of the protesters for Awka North and South Keke Drivers Welfare Forum, Comrade Osita Obi, lamented that the tricycle operators were compelled to pay illegal levies which include N4,500 fee for end of the year party, Identity card renewal of N3,500, State Management Code of N8,000, N50,000 membership registration among others.
He said, “A lot of people have been killed in this town because of who gets what from Keke revenue. We don’t want it again. The Keke drivers are tired of leadership imposition and want to be allowed to operate independently.”
They also stated that many of them can’t afford to live in good houses, sending their children to good schools and wearing good clothes doesn’t mean they are not making money. But cultists engaged by some government officials as revenue collectors are milking them dry.”
“We want to state clearly that if anything should happen to any of these drivers or to the speaker, people should hold the government of Anambra state responsible. We expect the government to intervene.”
“The Keke drivers are willing to pay legitimate government revenues, but obnoxious revenues will no longer be tolerated.”
“I’ve met Transport Commissioner several times on these issues, but he feigned ignorance, but I’m sure he is aware. I’m not doing this to run any government official down, but to restore sanity in the system. Enough of this exploitation and harassment,” Obi stated
“I’m using this opportunity to thank the police and the DSS for providing us security during this protest. We also congratulate the Governor-elect, Prof. Soludo because we believe that as a man with an independent mind he will not tolerate all this nonsense in the state “.
One of the protesters, Emeka Eze blamed the failure to conduct an election to replace the existing tricycle operators’ leadership in the state as the reason behind the crisis and killings in the union.
“I’m an HND holder from Kaduna State Polytechnic, Zaria. I ventured into this business so as to be financially independent.”
“We want the state government to compel the leadership to conduct a fresh election so we can assume leadership and be in charge of our affairs.
“When the election is democratically conducted, those extorting us would be removed from office”.
The state government in reaction said it would deal decisively with any official found extorting tricycle operators in the state.
Permanent secretary, Ministry of Transport, Dr. Emman Ude- Ukpeh said, the state government urged the tricycle operators to report such offenders to the ministry.
In a statement, Ude-Ukpeh said, “The attention of the Ministry of Transport has been drawn to increasing cases of an alleged attempt by some persons claiming to be officials of Tricycle (Keke) Union in the State to compel tricycle riders to pay a certain levy for End of Year Party/Get-together.”
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“The Ministry wishes to state that while members of recognized/registered transport unions in the state have the right to meet and agree on the conduct of such social activities/events, members who elect not to participate in such must never be compelled to participate or pay any levy to that effect by anyone whether Union official or not.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Transport shall deal decisively with any tricycle union official, representative(s) or agent(s) found to be compelling tricycle riders who chose not to participate in the ”End of Year Party” by impounding their tricycles or manhandling the riders.
“The Ministry, therefore, requests any rider being compelled to pay any levy for End of Year Party/Get-together to immediately report via SMS, WhatsApp message or even video to the Ministry’s Traffic Command and Control Centre (TCCC) on 09065820149 for immediate response and arrest of the culprits,” it added.
