Imo keke operators protest ban, destroy properties

www.odogwublog.com reports that in what best can be described as a mob action, hundreds of commercial tricycle operators popularly called 'keke' yesterday mobbed operatives of the Imo ENTRACO, to protest their ban on Imo major roads.

The major roads include Wethedral, Bank road, and Douglas. 

This is even as they were dispersed from the Imo state Government House where they sought to see Governor Rochas Okorocha. 

Imo residents woke up yesterday to see tens of youths at every major bus stop, deployed to stop and impound tricycles plying major roads in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Apparently irked by the attempt to stop what some of them described as their source of livelihood, the operators conveyed in groups, complaining about the development on Item street, along Mbari street in Owerri.

Then a Hilux truck conveying ENTRACO operatives approached and within a split second, the tricycle operators chased the truck and soon outnumbered the occupants.

In a bid to avoid them, the driver drove into Ebere Links Petroleum station, an action that almost resulted to their deaths.

The keke operators within a minute, surrounded the place and started pelting them with stones and bottles, they destroyed about four vehicles parked within the vicinity.

For almost 20 minutes, the operators kept stoning the vehicle and the operatives watched helplessly.

Not even the warning gun shots fired into the air by the Police could assuage them, until the vehicle drove out of the Fuel station.

The keke operators followed on foot and converged at the Imo State Government House, wherein they condoned off traffic leading in and out.

Some keke operators who spoke with odogwublog.com lamented that they were been pushed to their limits.

One Tony said "what does the Governor want from us. He has chased our wives from the Ekeonunwa market where they trade to support us, now he wants us chase us away. What are we going to use to feed our families. Won't we eat first at home before we come to admire his tallest African Christmas tree", he lamented.

At the Imo Government House, where the protesters went to lay their complaints, security operatives dispersed them before they displayed any unruly behaviour. 

The tricycle protesters left disappointed, with threats to return if they were not allowed to carry out their business without interference.  

Imo State Information Commissioner, Professor Nnamdi Obiaraeri told The Authority Daily that the keke ban were on a few roads in Owerri, saying there are numerous roads where they can ply. 

According to him, " rather than take the laws into their hands, they should seek legal means to challenge any policy they do not like. The peace and security of Imo people cannot be sacrificed. We all must be law abiding and support Government to remodel our State into world class. Already taxis have been released to many of them, to ensure their means of livelihood is sustained and more are still up for acquisition".