Okada Ban: Operators Cry Out Over Police Harassment

Following the ban on the
operations of commercial motor-cycle business in four local government areas of Rivers State, the operators have cried out over police harassment before the stipulated time.
It would be recalled that the ban, was announced by the Rivers State Governor  Nyesom  Wike  last week, that operation of the business should be restricted to between 5am and 8pm.
However, members of the Amalgamated Union in Ahoada East Local Government Area who spoke to The Tide said their members’ machines were seized before 8pm.
According to an official of The Union who gave his name as Chibuike Uche, he was surprised that at exactly 5pm, some police officers seized his machine at a junction between Ula-Ehuda and Ahoada main town.
According to him, initially every  member of the union was asked to obey the order.
The ban which includes, Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs was geared toward reducing the incidence of insecurity in the zones.
A Cross section of the riders who spoke to our correspondent however welcomed the order by the state governor even as they expressed worry over the operations of the police and other security agencies in the area in their enforcement methods.
When The Tide visited the zonal police Headquarters at Ahoada to ascertain the claim of the operators, a policeman on duty said he was not competent to speak on the matter.
However, further efforts to speak with the zonal commander or the Deputy Police Officer at the station were not fruitful as they were said to be out on official duty.