Insecurity: Agberen Calls On DTSG To Profile, Vet Tricycle, Okada Riders In Delta

By Daniel Dafe

Considering the incessant reports of insecurity and crime in Delta State, Comr.(Amb). Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, National Coordinator, “No Justice, No Peace Initiative,” has called on the Delta State Ministry of Transportation, through the Commissioner of Transportation; Hon. Agofure Onoriode, to as matter of urgency, devise strict measures and methods to vet and profile tricycle riders, popularly known as keke, and motorcycle riders also known as Okada in the state.

In a statement on Monday, the outspoken Activist, added that “it has become very necessary for the government through the office of the Ministry of Transportation to come up with strict measures and methods on motorists in the state, collaborating with the Delta State Police Command, saying “we have had too many unlicensed drivers riding tricycles that are unregistered neither are the drivers licensed to drive.”

He said further: “Due to the rate in crimes in various forms, and the trends in killings, kidnappings and armed robbery committed with tricycles also known as keke and motorcycles, in disguise as transporters, it is pertinent to call for serious concerns for the State Government to use every tips in hands, to have an organized data base collecting system, so as to identify genuine indigenous/neighbouring State transporters in the state.

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“The profiling of motorists in the State would enable proper identification that can be traced to the state of origins, next of kins and wards or guardians of transporters, especially none indigenes. Too many northerners are disguised as Keke and Okada transporters in the day, as informants at night and a lot of times, uses it as mediums to commit crimes and as such, poses a serious threat to the people and society at large. The commission through the Delta State Government shouldn’t be concerned alone, about monies generated from revenues through ticket sales but should also be concerned about legitimacy and profiling of motorists in the State.”

According to him, “from facts and findings, good numbers of tricycles and motorcycles plying the roads of Delta, are stolen property from different parts of the country and transported inside trucks carrying livestock from the North and Eastern Nigeria into Delta State,”

“Estimate has it, that, over 1800 trucks carrying livestock, leaves the North to the South on a monthly basis and as a matter of fact, thousands of uncoupled tricycles and motorcycles are smuggled into the State on a daily basis. On the other hand, genuine motorcycles and Tricycles are stolen, smuggled out of the State, using the same truck, that carried livestock into the State. Hence, there should be a proper data base for profiling operators of tricycles and motorcycles. Also, good numbers of Northerners have become major transporters especially at nights, and are armed robbers and kidnappers in disguise. They do not have a place of residence but are seen in different communities, living by the roadside, uncompleted and abandoned structures. The State Government should take punitive actions against offenders, reaching out to communities, that have occupants at uncompleted buildings, as it has become hiding places for criminals.

Conclusively, the Delta State Government should collaborate with immigration and the Nigeria Police, Delta State Command, to intercept/impound Motorcycles and Tricycles transported Inside trucks, carrying livestock from the North And Eastern Nigeria into Delta State. On the other hand, the Delta State Government, should also, intercept Motorcycles and Tricycles transported inside trucks, outside of Delta to the aforementioned areas and should subject them to proper investigation, vetting the licenses and ownership as well,” he added.