An appeal from an Anambra woman for help from Soludo to recover a seized tricycle
Miss Angela Umeh, a 28-year-old tricycle operator, is seeking assistance from Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to retrieve her tricycle, which has been held for over two weeks by the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency.
Umeh, from Okpuno in Awka South Local Government Area, expressed her plea to the Governor in Awka, on Wednesday. She mentioned that she commutes daily from Aroma Junction in Awka to the State Secretariat and Federal Secretariat until her tricycle was impounded by ARTMA officials led by one Goodluck on January 30, for allegedly violating traffic rules.
In distress, she narrated, “My mother cries every day and pleads with me to take her to ARTMA’s office. But I cannot because no money for feeding, not to talk more about transportation. We rely on the money sympathisers give to me daily while making cases for me at ARTMA’S office.”
Umeh also revealed that she was encountering intimidation and harassment from male colleagues who felt threatened by her popularity with passengers on the route, leading to a deprivation of some earnings for them.
She shared her challenges, stating, “The ARTMA officers are always harassing and intimidating me for daring to delve into male-dominated business. They said tricycle riding is reserved for the male folk.”
Umeh sought help from the state governor and non-governmental organizations to secure the release of her older tricycle which was obtained on hire purchase, emphasizing, “My governor and all those who can help should come to my rescue.”
When attempts were made to contact the Public Relations Officer, ARTMA, there was no response. A source in ARTMA mentioned that Umeh’s tricycle was impounded due to route violation and not because she was competing with male colleagues.