Alphonsus Nweze
The Keke and Okada Riders’ Welfare in Anambra State have pledged to collaborate with Governor Chukwuma Soludo and security outfits in the State to curb insecurity in 2023.
The State Organiser of Keke and Okada Riders’ Welfare, Chief Arunsi Igbaniuka, who said this during the new year party for his members held at Holiday Resort, Onitsha, the State commercial hub, assured that they are working hard to stop Keke robbery, handset snatching and any form of crime using Keke or Okada.
To that extent, Igbaniuka announced the setting up of a team of Keke and Okada Riders who would prevent crime among Keke and Okada operators in the state.
The team which goes with the name Checkmating Team, said Igbaniuka, would protect members and their passengers and would be established in all the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.
“These Checkmating team members will gather intelligence about criminals in their working areas and report to security operatives. We will collaborate with security operatives. There will be no robbery in Keke or snatching of bags in Okada again,” said Igbaniuka.
He also said they had since instructed their members to comply with the payment of their levies as directed by the state government.
Igbaniuka assured that they would continue to encourage their members to comply with State Government directives in the payment of their levies and any other directive.
In the address presented at the occasion by the secretary, Comrade Obaji, “Our ultimate goal was to be recognised by the State Government which would enable them partner with the Government in organising the affairs of Keke and Okada Riders in the State,”
“Having been working toward the goal for several months now, we have coordinated and directed our members to register and pay their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as directed by the State Government.”
He said as people on the ground, they would be able to checkmate touts on the roads because according to the secretary “we know who these touts are, where they could be found, and how best to deal decisively with them.”
He commended the the Governor for his efforts at confronting insecurity and fixing failed roads in the state.
The secretary also eulogised the Commissioner for Transport, Mrs Patricia Igwebuike, other officials of the state as well as head of security organisations in the state who have been helping to make the work of Keke and Okada riders easy.
Lauding his colleagues for their support and doggedness, the secretary assured them that this year would present them better opportunities to soar with their activities, seminars, special events which they are planning to enrich.
