Commercial tricycle riders popularly known as `Keke’ in Enugu State have expressed mixed feelings over alleged incessant police extortion in the state.

Some of them told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday that some policemen on checkpoints in major streets took advantage of tricycle operators in the state regardless of whether they had complete papers or not.

A tricycle rider plying Trans-Ekulu route and who claimed anonymity, alleged  that policemen were fond of collecting N50 from them at each trip adding that such activities hindered their businesses.

However, he quickly added that most operators were always quick to pay because they did not have complete papers while those with complete papers would rather pay N50 instead of having to experience any form of delay from the police.

It was a similar report in Agbani Rd and Abakpa Nike as the operators complained about extortions by the police.

The Vice Chairman of the Association of Tricycle Riders, Holy Ghost Unit, Mr Samuel Okafor, opined that it was normal for policemen to stop and search tricycles in order to ascertain if it was not a stolen tricycle.

When asked about the extortion, he pushed the blame to some tricycle riders whom he said were quick to offer the police money because they had incomplete papers as well as some impatient passengers.

“It is at the point where a policeman stops a Keke man that passengers begin to shout Oga, don’t waste our time.

“So, even if the tricycle rider has his complete papers and would want to clear himself, his passengers will not allow him and nobody will want to lose their passengers,” he said.

On other taxes and levies, the tricycle operators said they had no issue with the daily ticketing as well as the riders permit the state government intended to issue to them.

According to him, we believe the government has our interest at heart whenever they take decisions for them.

In his reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu State, Superintendent Ebere Amaraizu said he was not aware of such report before now but would refer the issue to the commissioner of police for necessary action.

“I am not going to dismiss your report, I will put it across to the Commissioner of Police who will look into this information and take necessary steps in order to fish out the policemen who have been found culpable,” he said.

Amaraizu, also added that the said tricycle operators could help them reduce such incidence if they could pinpoint the areas where they were experiencing such issue.

“It will be better if tricycle operators can point the specific areas where such incidence is occurring,” he said. (NAN)

– Jun 6, 2018 @ 19:15 GMT |