Commercial tricycle operators, on Wednesday, marched to the head office of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, in protest of alleged Police harassment, extortion and illegal arrest.
In defiance, the protesters blocked one lane of the major highway to the airport, chanting solidarity songs.
The protesters bore placards demanding answers over their plight, “License Office, tell us why our plate numbers are not registered in your system. Police are harassing us”, “Government provide us with jobs please. Police leave Keke riders alone” and “License Office, what happened to our plate numbers,” amongst others.
The protesters alleged that the police in Warri and environs have been troubling them with illegal arrest and extortion of ten thousand, N10,000, daily.
They warned that if the matter is not handled amicably by the relevant government agencies, it could snowball into a major crisis.
One of the commercial tricycle operators who claimed to be from the Eyekpimi family of Okere-Urhobo community said if the Police are looking for “illegal officers,” they should go and arrest those working at DBIR’s office.
He said they should not come to the road and illegally arrest Keke riders who are only fending for themselves and their families.
He noted that the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, may not be aware of the development in Warri, drawing his attention to the matter.
” Governor, the police in Warri are harassing us. Area Command, Ekpan,”B” Division and all of them.”
Eyekpimi said our number plates have been registered by the licensing office.
This post was originally published on this site.
