Tuesday 10 April 2012

NURTW, police harrassing us – Keke operators


Tricycle operators

Hello Friends!

Considering the fact that The Lagos State Government is a ''working'' government, one should expect that something is done to stop this harrassment of the Keke Operators.. We are hoping their voices would be heard soon.

The Lagos State chapter of the Three-Wheelers Beneficiaries/Operators Association of Nigeria has accused the police and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers of harassment and conspiring to take control of their parks in Ejigbo, Ketu and Isolo areas of the state.

Chairman of the association, also known as Keke operators Mr. Moses Buhari, said during a press conference that policemen attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, led by a police superintendent identified simply as Raji, conspired with members of the NURTW to intimidate members of the association and take over their parks.

He said, “On March 29, 2012, a group of policemen from FEDSARS, Adeniji-Adele; led by one supol Raji, in company of members of the NURTW, seized all our tricycle parks in Ejigbo, Isolo and Ketu environs.
“We condemn the nefarious activities of the NURTW who have connived with the police to invade, harass and take over our parks after detaining our members for no just cause.

“The police assisted these NURTW members to carry out this deadly act because of certain benefits.”

Buhari alleged that the NURTW had tried in the past to force the association to join the union but the association refused, adding that this had caused a friction between the NURTW and the three-wheelers.

He said the NURTW had used violent means to force the association to join it but regretted that the peaceful nature of members of the association was now being taken for granted.

To avert a possible clash between the two parties, Buhari appealed to the state government as well as the police authorities to intervene in the matter.

He said, “We wish to appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola; and the Acting Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to intervene because this unwholesome act is unacceptable to a law-abiding association like ours.

“We are also sending an SOS to Abubakar who is well known for his no-nonsense attitude to come to our aid by calling the errant officers who are supporting this illegality.”

When contacted, the acting Chairman of the state chapter of the NURTW, Mr. Tajudeen Agbede, told our correspondent that he had yet to be briefed on the incident.

“I heard there was a fracas but I don’t have all the details yet. At present, the NURTW and the Three Wheelers Association are in court over the issue of whether they are meant to be part of the NURTW or not. I’ll have a meeting with the parties involved and will get back to you,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, FEDSARS, Mr. Lekan Ogundare, could however not be reached and a text message sent to his phone was not responded to.

Source: Punch Metro.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

No comments:

Post a Comment