The Abia State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ayinla Taiye Olowo, has pleaded with tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke, in the state to expose bad eggs among them and also provide useful information to assist them.
The charge came over concerns about the rising spate of kidnapping for ransom and other criminal activities in the state.
Meeting with the executives of the operators in Umuahia, Ayinla told the leadership of the three Unions that their members have very important roles to play in the collective efforts towards fighting crime in the state and charged them to expose the bad eggs among them as well as provide useful security information to security agencies.
He reminded them to strictly comply with the state government’s 10 pm curfew for tricycle operation in the state and advised the general public to always check, snap or if possible send the security numbers of the tricycle they board to their relatives, friends and colleagues “which could help in the event of any untoward development”.
He further noted that when the public begins to adopt such safety measures, Keke operators will be discouraged from committing crimes with their tricycles knowing that they stand being caught.
Executives of the Tricycle Owners Association, Self Acquired Tricycle Operators Association, and the Allied Tricycle Riders Welfare Association were at the meeting.
In their separate speeches, Nduka Awomukwu of SATOA, Chief Eddy Anyanwu of TOAN, and Chisom John of ATRIWA appreciated the Abia NSCDC boss for convening such an important meeting at a time when most Keke operators have been accused of indulging in criminal activities thereby bringing disrepute to their members in the state.
While acknowledging that the security challenges have become more daring in the state in recent times, they pledged to work closely with the Command to ensure that those bad eggs among them are not only exposed but also ensure that their unions will not register anyone with questionable character.
They equally appreciated the Commandant’s suggestion for a biometric capturing of tricycle operators in the state to keep a trackable record of operators.
