The Rivers Drivers Transport Co- operative Union of Nigeria is still lamenting the incessant harassment, mining and extortion as well as acts capable of breakdown of law and order perpetrated on their members by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in connivance with some officers of the Nigeria Police in the State.
Narrating their predicaments to our correspondent in his office in Port Harcourt, Tuesday, the President of the Co-operative Union, Mr Binoye Sunday said it has become necessary that the government of Rivers State, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahaem idris the state commissioner of police Zakci Muhammed and other relevant authorities to prevail on NURTW to stop their nefarious acts against members of the co-operative as well as obey industrial court order of April 19, 2018, which restricts them from having authority over them.
Mr Binoye Sunday reiterated that it is disheartening to note that his members were assaulted and molested daily by members of NURTW over selling of tickets and other illegal levies.
According to him, two of his members namely Lekabari Nwewaadao, Ikpeba Idikiscmaina are currently in police detention at Agip police station for selling tickets to its members, adding that the situation was not different in Elipranwo Central Police Station (CPS) and other Police Division where their several petitions and complaints are being treated with kid glove and as complainants they were turned accused if they failed to fabulous amount demanded by the police.
He opined that sometimes the NURTW in connivance with the police used men of the Anti- Kidnapping unit and IG x- sguard at Oyigbo to intimidate, carry out unlawful detention of their members harassing, assaulting unlawful seizure, impounding of cars and seats as well as restricting law abiding public officers from accessing or using public facilities, stressing that the situation is becoming alarming.
The Co-operative Union President however lauded the IGP for banning SARS from indulging into land matters, family affairs, civil issues among others but to focus on their area of jurisdiction and pray that he should ensure the order was carried out to its latter, and hinted that he is currently facing a two count charge of allegedly selling tickets to public at the Port Harcourt Magistrate Court 10, on August 9, 2018 where both parties were asked to maintain status guo until the trial of the matter.
Sunday also disclosed that on September 13, 2108, both unions were summoned before the Paramount Ruler of Rumuolumini,Eze Ndubueze Wobo Olumeni and the NURTW state chairman, Omeniayebagha Duma Kalango further threatened that he would use SARS to arrest his members unless they join them or stop operating in Rivers State, but that when the Paramount Ruler asked when did the NURTW and RDTCU keke sections started their operations in the area, they had no answer.
operate that they are not permitted by law to operate.
“ Labour Law says you are not a registered trade union, you cannot operate,’’ he maintained.

Collins Barasimeye