Tricycle operators to help police tackle one-chance robberies

Commercial tricycle operators in Onitsha and Ogbaru, Nigeria, are stepping up to assist the police in tackling "one-chance" robberies, a crime where criminals use tricycles to rob passengers. Under the umbrella of the Anambra Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF), operators have pledged to collaborate with the state police command and other security agencies to rid the areas of criminal activities.

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Initially, our daily income was badly depleted due to the numerous pole-to-pole ‘extortionist checkpoints’ on the roads. Today, we members of AKDF Onitsha and Ogbaru chapters are progressing in our business and we are using this opportunity to thank the Commissioner of Police Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu for removing the extortionist policemen on our roads.

The AKDF leadership expressed gratitude to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, and Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for recent improvements in security. Specifically, they commended the CP for ordering the removal of police officers who were allegedly extorting them at numerous checkpoints. Ugochukwu Adiele, the AKDF Coordinator for Onitsha and Ogbaru LGAs, stated that the reduction in checkpoints has positively impacted their earnings.

"Initially, our daily income was badly depleted due to the numerous pole-to-pole 'extortionist checkpoints' on the roads," Adiele said. "Today, we members of AKDF Onitsha and Ogbaru chapters are progressing in our business and we are using this opportunity to thank the Commissioner of Police Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu for removing the extortionist policemen on our roads."

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Those checkpoints caused unbearable pains on us and rendered the Keke drivers useless. Before we were going home with nothing on a daily basis after work because of police extortion. However for the past one week and above, the Commissioner of Police in the state ordered the removal of Police check points from the roads where they stayed to extort money from us. Now things have improved for us; the Commissioner of Police is doing a good work and we encourage him to keep up the good work.

Adiele added that the group is ready to partner with the police to identify and apprehend tricycle operators involved in criminal activities, particularly "one-chance" robberies. "Henceforth, any Keke operator who use his Keke to engage in criminal activities of robbing and dispossessing people of their property, including those involved in one-chance robbery will be fished out," he vowed. The forum also extended appreciation to other security personnel contributing to improved safety in the state.

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We are using this opportunity to tell the CP that we will partner him and his men to reduce crime associated with Keke drivers, particularly those who use their Keke to engage in criminal activities. Henceforth, any Keke operator who use his Keke to engage in criminal activities of robbing and dispossessing people of their property, including those involved in one-chance robbery will be fished out. We must appreciate this fine gesture of the Commissioner of Police, we must sanitise our operation by apprehending criminals who pretend to be commercial Keke operators.