Keke Drivers Decry Extortion In PH

Some transporters using
tricycles popularly called “keke”, along Mini-Orlu community in Obio/Akport local government area have cried to the Rivers State Government for help over the intimidation and extortion of some of their members by some persons who claimed to be working with the state ministry of transport.
In a chat with newsmen, Tuesday, the Vice Chairman of the Keke Drivers Association, Mini-Orlu, Sunday James, who raised the alarm, stated that the task force had impounded some tricycles belonging to some of their members over none payment of N7,000.00 (seven thousand naira), which he said the task force had claimed to be registration fee.
James stated that the said amount was too high especially where a prior agreement was not reached.
According to him, “how do we survive to pay N7,000.00? Where will the money come from? Now they’ve started impounding our keke, holding some and keeping them in their custody without a prior agreement. We just came to work to see them this morning”.
James stressed that the association was not aware of the new payment and appealed to the state government to intervene in the matter, emphasizing that the amount was too high for any keke driver to pay, stating that times were hard.
He lamented, saying, “considering the situation of things now and considering this road, there’s not much passengers, to even make N1000.00 is a problem to most of us how much more N7,000.
He appealed that the amount be reduced to N500.00, then one can make the sacrifices
Leaders of the task force could not be reached to confirm the allegation, however, a member of the task force who pleaded anonymity, stated that the drivers were well aware of the impounding exercise after the expiration of the notice issued to them.

Tonye Nria-Dappa