February 9, 2025

On Thursday Tricycle operators protested over the arrest of one of their members, Mr. Amos Nweke, by the recently inaugurated state security operatives, Agunacemba, for failing to comply with the security number profiling requirement.

The protest which started in the afternoon lasted till late in the evening keeping commuters stranded as the operators rode in protest to the Aguneçhemba office in Agu Awka.

It was learnt that Prince Chinedu Okafor, the Mayor of Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, had, allegedly collaborated with the former chairman of the Keke riders in Awka, Hon. Prince Collins Ozojiofor, alias Snoop, to arrest one Amos Nweke at Eke Awka market for not having a security number on his tricycle.

Speaking to journalists at Aroma Park, a tricycle operator and one of the coordinators of the park, Mr. Uchenna Umeh, said that Snoop, contrary to government directives, arrested one of their park coordinators for not having an Anambra State security number.

“One person, called Snoop, who prides himself as chairman of Keke operators in Awka North and South, and in fact the Awka zone, colluded with the mayor of Awka South. They instructed Keke riders to come to the local government, paint their tricycles in Anambra colors, and get security numbers, against the policy of the state government,”

“How could Snoop be directing the state security outfit if not that Awka South approved of it?” he asked.
He added that Snoop personally ordered the Udo Ga Chi to arrest Amos Nweke and others at Eke Awka for not having the security number on their tricycles.

“We have over 6,000 Keke operators in Awka. Imagine if all 6,000 tricycles lined up at the local government Secretariat to get a security number.

“The mayor claimed he would cover the costs, but what about the time wasted? They said they would begin compliance enforcement in two weeks, and anyone caught would have to pay them. It’s clear that their interest is to make money from the Keke operators, not to actually provide security. It is not as free as they want us to believe.

“They have printed emblems and identity cards, but the government has exempted Keke operators from needing additional ID cards because we already have government-issued ones. As far as we are concerned, the government has disbanded unions in Anambra.

“There is no unionism here, and no one can impose unionism on us. We are not going to accept the profiling of Keke operators by anyone other than the state government. We have already been profiled by the state,”

“If there is a union in Anambra State today, he should be able to relinquish power to someone else when the governor lifts the ban.
“Snoop has been chairman of Keke operators in Awka for years, since the time of Governor Obiano. I think it’s time he allowed another person to take over the position when the governor lifts the ban. I was even surprised that he ran away when the Keke riders said he could not enforce any illegal activities at the park. What business does Agunacemba have at the park? They should not undermine the governor’s good intentions to fight crime in the state.”

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