By MERCY NEME

The Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, on Tuesday met leaders of the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA) over rising abduction cases linked to tricycle operations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, held at the Asagba’s Palace, brought together COMTOA executives, task force members, and palace chiefs to discuss measures to curb the growing security concern.

Azinge expressed concerns over reports of recent kidnappings carried out with commercial tricycles, describing the development as a serious threat to public safety.

He said maintaining peace and security in Asaba remained a top priority, stressing that any activity capable of undermining law and order would not be tolerated in the kingdom.

The Asagba noted that Asaba’s reputation as a peaceful and investment-friendly city must be protected, warning that criminal elements operating through tricycles could damage the community’s growth and stability.

He challenged COMTOA leaders to strengthen oversight of operators and develop effective control measures capable of preventing criminal activities within the transport sector.

The traditional ruler also raised concerns on the enforcement of existing regulations, including the profiling of tricycle owners, drivers, routes, and operational limits across the city.

Azinge warned that the association would be held accountable if further abductions were linked to commercial tricycles, insisting that immediate solutions must be implemented.

He pledged the support of the traditional institution in ensuring that tricycle operations remained safe and free from criminal infiltration.

Responding on behalf of COMTOA, the Director-General of the association’s task force, Chief Uchenna Okafor, said several monitoring mechanisms were already in place.

He explained that tricycle owners, riders, and guarantors were profiled by the state Ministry of Transport, while regular patrols were conducted to monitor compliance and deter criminal activities.

Okafor assured the traditional ruler that surveillance and enforcement operations would be intensified to prevent the involvement of tricycle operators in kidnapping and other crimes.

Participants at the meeting also urged passengers to remain vigilant by confirming the official identification codes displayed on tricycles before boarding.

They advised commuters to record or share the registered code numbers with relatives or friends to aid investigations in the event of any security incident.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by both the traditional institution and transport operators to work together in safeguarding residents and preserving peace in Asaba. (NAN)

Update news