Members of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NACTOMORAS) in Delta State have accused the Delta State Police Command and rival groups of disrupting their lawful transport business activities.
Seeking intervention, NACTOMORAS has directly appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to address the alleged harassment and intimidation faced by its members.
Voicing their concerns during a peaceful protest at Udu Road in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, Goodwin Ikolo, the National Public Relations Officer of NACTOMORAS, highlighted the continuous arrests and harassment of their members by the police.
In addition, he mentioned that in 2022, the National Human Rights Commission recommended that the police cease the harassment of NACTOMORAS members in Delta State.
Referring to the unfortunate 2015 incident involving the death of a member, Ikolo stated that the commission had also advised the payment of N8 million to the deceased member’s family, a recommendation that remains unfulfilled.
Ikolo, who is also the chairman of the Delta State chapter, mentioned that the association suffered losses of over 150 tricycles and motorcycles, totaling more than N150 million, due to police actions.
Expressing their grievances, Ikolo said, “We are protesting against the highhandedness of the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State concerning our operations. As law-abiding citizens, we belong to a noble association registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and we are aware that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of association.”
Accusing the Delta State Ministry of Transportation and a rival association of collaborating with the police, alongside recruited thugs and touts, to disrupt NACTOMORAS operations, Ikolo emphasized the obstruction of their business activities through molestation, witch-hunting, and arbitrary arrests.
Recalling the 2016 incident where the Delta State Ministry of Transport, with a team of security agents, raided their office and confiscated vehicles, Ikolo urged the police to adhere to the commission’s judgments and recommendations, warning of potential nationwide protests against police brutality.
NACTOMORAS, as a legally registered entity, appealed to the federal and state governments to intervene in securing the release of their impounded vehicles, many of which were acquired under hire purchase agreements, causing financial distress to the owners.
In response, Delta State Police spokesperson SP Edafe Bright stated that the police only recognize bodies acknowledged by the state government, considering NACTOMORAS as proscribed and unknown to the state authorities. He asserted the police institution’s obligation to protect legal bodies, disregarding accountability to the Human Rights Commission.
Edafe emphasized that if NACTOMORAS wishes to operate in Delta, they should seek legal recourse through the courts to enforce their rights. Dismissing the influence of the Human Rights Commission, he clarified the judiciary’s role in addressing such matters through proper legal channels.