Anambra Keke Drivers Forum, representing tricycle operators in Anambra State, has instructed its members to prepare for a protest due to ongoing harassment, exploitation, and extortion they face, as well as the excessive number of checkpoints in the state.
The group expressed concern over the security agencies, including the police, naval ratings, and personnel from Anambra State Transportation Management Agency and Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, who have been extorting money from the tricycle drivers at various checkpoints set up along the roads.
The State Coordinator of AKDF, Mr. Osita Obi, issued a statement urging union members to mobilize for the protest to bring attention to their issues to the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Obi highlighted that the governor had previously responded to the drivers’ complaints by reducing the revenue demands imposed by the AIRS, but the drivers now face increased financial burdens due to new revenue requirements.
According to Obi, the drivers are subjected to harassment, exploitation, and extortion by security personnel across different cities in the state, impacting their daily earnings significantly.
He emphasized the need for the immediate removal of these revenue demands, which contradict the governor’s digital revenue policy and promote the presence of touts in the system.
If the situation persists, AKDF plans to organize a statewide protest to compel the governor to address the issues at hand.
Notably, in November 2023, residents along the Onitsha-Owerri Road accused naval ratings of using young individuals to extort money from motorists at checkpoints near the Upper Iweka area.
During a visit to the location, it was observed that teenagers were collecting payments from drivers before allowing them to pass through the security barriers.