By Evelyn Usman
Ejigbo and Isolo areas of Lagos were recently thrown into pandemonium following the invasion by stern- looking policemen, later discovered to be from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele, Lagos.
The policemen reportedly seized several tricycles, otherwise known as Keke Napep. In a bid to avoid the seizure, some riders, who attempted to flee the scene, had head-on collision with each other,while passers-by and commuters sustained injuries in their attempts to avoid being hit by the tricycles.
However, when the dust settled, it was discovered that the invasion was not unconnected with the on-going feud between tricycle operators and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, over the latter’s alleged plan to forcefully take over operation of tricycles in the state, an attempt which met the former resisted.
The matter, is, however, in court. But there is a twist to it as the Three-wheelers Beneficiaries/Operators Association of Nigeria has accused some policemen of being used by NURTW to harass it. Chairman of the association, Comrade Moses Buhari, disclosed that himself and other executive members of the association were “unjustly detained at the Fed SARS after the invasion”.
Condemning the action, he stated that the association would not tolerate any act that might jeopardise the interest of its members.
Buhari, therefore, called on the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, to call his men to order, even as he appealed to Governor Babatunde Fashola to come to the association’s aid by curbing the activities of the NURTW and other groups out to foment trouble by engaging tricycle operators in a face-off that could threaten the peace in the state.
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