Some residents of Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, have welcomed the restriction of commercial tricycle and motorcycle movement in the state, saying they hoped it would keep kidnappers at bay.
Others were not quite sure if the restriction was what would curb kidnapping, some adding that it hurts operators who have families to feed.
The state government, adopting the policy of its immediate predecessor, banned motorcycle operators from working in the capital city, Umuahia and Aba, while tricycle operators are allowed in both cities only between 6am and 7pm.
However, motorcyclists are permitted on the outskirts and communities.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Godwin Adindu, in a statement, said,
“Security reports confirm that these hoodlums operate with keke (tricycle) and Okada motorbike.
“As part of the security measures to check the activities of these hoodlums, government is hereby re-enforcing the old rule and order as it relates to the operation of keke riders and okada riders in Abia State.
“Henceforth, Keke riders are only allowed to operate within the hours of 6am and 7pm in Aba and Umuahia, while okada remains banned in the metropolis. Okada can only operate in the outskirts and communities. This order takes effect immediately.
“The Government is determined to maintain law and order and protect the life and property of the law abiding citizens and therefore warns all criminals and evil minded persons to desist from their evil acts or face the full weight of the law.
“The government is also using this medium to remind the people to be security conscious and to offer information to security agencies through the free security toll lines”.
A resident who gave his name as Chidi Madu told our correspondent, “It was a good decision by the state government. I’m sure you know that in recent times, kidnapping and abduction of Aba residents have been on the increase. Though the ones I have heard were entirely carried out using the individual’s car. But one cannot rule out the use of Keke to trail and whisk their victims to beat security men on patrol and those of them at strategic checkpoints.
“But my fear is that some security agencies will take advantage of this to exploit the commercial tricycle operators. Government should also spell out their position on the use of motorcycle within the urban areas by security personnel whom it seems that those civilians were emulating to be riding their own machines on the road.
Corroborating Madu’s position, a tricycle operator alleged “recently we were asked to remove the rail tarpaulin even when they know that we are in the rainy season and that we use it shield our customers from the rain. Unannounced, they (police) started stopping us and charging us. The amount of money you pay depends on your power to negotiate.
They collect as much as N10, 000 from us. I am sure that their ogas are not aware of what their junior officers are doing. There should be proper sensitisation of the public before they start enforcing such orders. Look around, you can’t see any keke with the tarpaulin again and we are on the losing side especially when it start raining because no one want to be inside keke and being beaten by the rain.
“For us to resume work by 6am is good, but I want them to also consider extending the time we close work. Let them please extend it to 8pm”, he pleaded.
Another resident that simply gave his name as Ephraim while commending the government for showing concern over the security of its citizens also called on the government to also provide an alternative that would cushion the effect of the ban.
“Government decision is good. But the problem I have with that is that they (government) have not been able to provide alternative means of transportation that would be conveying people home from 7pm till may be 10 or so as the case may be.
“The order I was coming back from Port Harcourt. I actually came in very late and on getting to Milverton, I couldn’t see any keke that will take me home. I trekked home from park road to Ogbor Hill and you can imagine how stressful it was for me that day.
If government is banning the commercial tricycles from operating after 7pm, they should provide alternative through which the people in Aba and Umuahia can get to their homes and don’t forget that there are places keke will enter and buses won’t because of the terrain of some places in Aba especially,” Ephraim said.
