Anambra Tricycle operators protest over police extortion in Onitsha

Commercial Tricycle Owners and Riders Welfare Association of Anambra State, CTORWAAS, on Thursday took to the major streets of Onitsha, Anambra state, protesting alleged police extortion.

It was gathered that the protesters numbering about 500 with their tricycles barricaded Ogbonmanu junction, Awka road, DMGS round-about, Ekene junction and Savoy, thereby paralyzing business activities in Onitsha.

The protesters some of who carried placards with the inscription, “Police extortion must stop, enough of this high-ticket rate, N800 IGR per day should stop, Gov. Obiano come to our rescue”, among others.

According to one of the Keke operators, Mike Onyebuchi, “we are here to express our anger over police extortion. Government now collects N550 from each Keke instead of N450 which we were paying before the covid-19”.

“Apart from this, government now collects multiple levies that range from N250 for ticket, two to four hundred naira for three passengers that each Keke carries”.

The protesters carried their grievances to Inland Town Police station where they were addressed by the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. John Obuagbaka.

Addressing them he said, “you should carry your demand to the state government and avoid this protest as it is not the way to solve your problem.

We understand your problem which is caused by covid-19 resulting in your carrying two passengers and now you want to carry three passengers which the police you said did not allow you to carry. I urged you to carry your complaint to the government for amicable settlement”.

In a swift reaction when contacted, the CTORWAAS Chairman, Comrade Sylvester Obiora told newsmen that the protest was as a result of extortion by security agencies adding that “it all started on June 1st, 2020 when business activities normalized in Anambra State”.

“They are protesting that they should be allowed to carry three passengers instead of two. I also see reason with them because of the economic downturn”

“Keke right from the onset, that is before covid-19, was carrying three passengers and during covid-19 it was carrying two passengers so it is expected that in the post covid-19 that it should return to carrying three passengers and I can see with them”

The CTORWAAS boss also disclosed that six illegal revenue collectors were arrested in collaboration with police within the Onitsha metropolis, insisting that “we will not relent in fighting illegal revenue collectors until we bring them to submission”.