Social and commercial activities were put on hold for a few hours on Tuesday. Commercial tricycle riders, popularly called Keke, embarked on a peaceful protest along major streets of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State.
While the protest lasted, economic activities were crippled as many people were seen stranded along the streets without commercial means of transportation to their various places of work, with schoolchildren being the worst hit.
The protest, coordinated by the leadership of the Association of Tricycle Drivers (NAPEP), was over what they alleged was extortion by the Yobe State Road Transport Agency (YOROTA).
The protesters alleged that personnel of the agency are extorting payment of daily fees from their members as well as ordering fresh registration from every rider.
They cried out that already, the economic situation in the country is not favourable to their operation, and the government is bringing more hardship on them through extortion by the YOROTA personnel.
Meanwhile, the State Police Command said that it has restored law and order over the commercial tricycle rider agitation in Damaturu, calling on people to return to their daily activities peacefully.
The command assured that it had deployed the necessary measures and restored orders in and around Damaturu Metropolitan Council.
According to the Command, the protest was an outright breach of law and order for members of the public to protest on grievances that can be easily addressed through justifiable means.
“However, commercial bicycle riders in the state have an active association that can be approached for any unfavourable policy made by the state transport agency or any government body,” it stressed.
The Commissioner of Police, Garba Ahmed, called on the commercial tricycle riders to be law-abiding and avoid untoward acts that may lead to public disturbance of peace, as the Command is working towards peaceful dialogue with Yobe State Road Transport Agency (YOROTA) and the Association of Commercial Tricycle Riders in the state.
“Therefore, anyone found in an unlawful gathering or protesting without proper permission from security agencies will be arrested and prosecuted,” as contained in a statement by DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, Police Public Relations Officer, Yobe State Police Command, Damaturu.
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