Anambra considers banning tricycles over increased crime rate

Governor Obiano

Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, has threatened to ban tricycle (Keke NAPEP) operators in parts of the state in his bid to curtail crime and cult-related activities, especially during the yuletide season.

Governor Obiano issued this threat while interfacing with tricycle operators at the Alex Ekwueme square, Awka, on Wednesday.

Obiano, who spoke through the Secretary to the state government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, raised alarm over increasing cases of crime in the state being perpetrated with tricycles. He urged the operators to identify the bad eggs among them, just as he urged them to join the ongoing ATMC registration in the state.

“The registration will help for easy identification. Security reports received over the last few weeks indicate that keke are used to commit crimes, including kidnap activities, shootings, pilfering, among others, which has increased”, Chukwulobelu explained.

“We should not jeopardise the security architecture Obiano has succeeded in building over the years, as security should be everybody’s business. If the operators refuse to identify the bad eggs among them, government will have no other alternative than to ban the operation of tricycle in the state.”

Describing the operators as part of the state, Obiano warned them against reckless riding, which he aid, caused traffic gridlock in parts of the state, especially in the evening hours. He emphasised that tricyclists were only allowed to operate in the state as a means of transportation.

Former Commissioner for Transport, Mr Uchenna Okafor, announced the cancellation of all monthly dues being paid by the operators, assuring them that their grievances would be probed with a view to addressing them.

Orient Weekend gathered that there has been alarming rise in crime allegedly associated with the operators.

It was gathered that within a week, no fewer than 12 persons were killed in Awka, the state capital, in cult-related activities, attributed to Keke NAPEP operators.