By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Members of the Anambra State Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF) on Monday, cried out over constant threats and illegal activities of suspected secret cults groups and touts in the state.

The forum called on the state Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to deploy more operatives of the Ocha Brigade and Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) to popular areas like, Aroma junction as well as other parks across the state to enable them sustain their daily operations.

The Keke drivers said the call has become necessary given the constant threats and illegal activities of suspected secret cult groups and touts who extort money from them.

According to them, the presence of security officials would help to reduce chaotic traffic situation around the area and hitherto, prevent constant harassment by the bad boys.

They also denied the allegations that an Awka based Human Rights Activist, Comrade Osita Obi, collects money from them as part of his coordination of activities of the group and Convener of the forum.

According to Mr. Uchenna Umeh who is the General Secretary of the forum, the body is a platform where all the members air their grievances and challenges in the field of operations.

He wondered the source that said they were being extorted, dismissing it as a lie.

Umeh said: “I don’t know the source that is alleging extortion, we do not have such complaints of extortion here (Aroma park) presently in this park. There is no one extorting anyone in this park. Before now, yes, but now we are talking, there is nothing like that happening”

“Before now what was obtainable was that when you enter the park you pay N200 for park fee and each time you load you pay N100 but that’s not the situation now. Presently, we only pay N200.

“Before now the Aroma junctions used to be very chaotic when it comes to Keke operations. Before now Keke drivers were obstructing the traffic and people were everywhere causing commotion at the junction and causing obstructions and nuisance.

“We did our best by trying to bring relevant authority here but all our efforts proved abortive; we talked to the Managing Director of ARTMA, Mr. Konti, we arranged to have an interface with him so that he could bring his men to be stationed here permanently in order to stop those who are causing nuisance, nothing happened”

“We have also talked to the Ministry of Transport and MD ARTDA, none of them intervened until we went to Ocha Brigade MD, we pleaded with him and he intervened and that is why there is sanity at the junctions right now. As you can see there is no obstruction at the junctions and no nuisance because of the presence of men of Ocha Brigade and men of AVG.”

“The truth is that the Keke Drivers here are enjoying their operations here. It’s more seamless and there is orderliness as well. The reason why the AVG are here is for our own protection. When this park was secured for keke operators to use and manage it by themselves, we received various threats by those who have interest in extorting us. Before now they collect N300 park fee and N100 per loading.”

According to the General Secretary, the presence of AVG and Ocha Brigade is helping them run their business seamlessly.

He further urged the government to deploy more AVG and Ocha Brigade men at Aroma junction to help maintain sanity and orderliness.

Another Keke driver who identified himself as comrade Amos Nweke said that a lot of cult boys and Touts are disturbing them and creating problems in their operations.

According to him, they want to be collecting their money by themselves and not by cultists or professional unionists who the governor had banned in the state.

Nweke further expressed gratitude to Managing Director of Ocha Brigade Mr Celestine Anere and AVG operatives for providing them security and maintaining sanity at both sides of Aroma junctions.

He added: “With the presence of AVG and Ocha Brigade, we are having sanity and seamless operations and no obstructions now at Aroma junctions. We are begging the government to empower the Ocha Brigade and AVG more to permanently remain at Aroma and maintain peace and sanity. Aroma is the only place that habours the state three arm zone.”

Responding to the allegations that comrade Osita Obi extort money from them, he said that the accusers are the criminal elements who have been milking them years ago before Obi came on board to rescue them.

While describing Osita as an activist, he said that he (Obi) is the person that is spending his money to entertain them during meetings.

He said: “Obi is a human rights activist, he hates injustice and cheating. When we were being treated like animals, he intervene and saved us. Anything that happens to him, “we will not take it lightly, he is our savior.”

On his part, Comrade Aguiyi Okoronkwo who is also a Keke drivers said that some people who are playing opposition are the major problems they are having.

He hailed the AVG and Ocha Brigade MD Mr Celestine Anere for providing security for them, noting that without them they would have left the state due to the activities of the bad boys.

Okoronkwo also refuted the allegations that comrade Osita Obi collects money from them, saying, “comrade Osita Obi is not a Keke driver and the only things he does was to make them maintain sanity and obey traffic rules.

He said that Obi being an activist and a man who hates cheating decided to help them and to stop the cheating and injustice by some Touts in the state.

“Honestly, I am not aware of anytime, place or in any meeting where he asked for money or where the Keke drivers gave him money. He is even the person spending on us” he said.

The co-ordinator of Keke Drivers Forum, Comrade Osita Obi, on his part said: “At my age, I cannot engage in Keke driving. The only interest I have is to enthrone justice, fairness and equity. Another interest is to see sanity and orderliness in Aroma junctions because it is the three arm zone of the government of the state.

“I am 63 years, I have paid my dues. I am not interested in becoming a Keke driver. My interest is to stop extortion and harassment from the cultists and Touts to these struggling men. They are coming to me because they trust and believe in me. I am an activist, I don’t ride Keke. I don’t own Keke and I am not a member of Keke drivers and I have no interest in being one.”

According to him, he had received several threats from some cult boys but he is not deterred because he believe he is working for a better Anambra.

He said: "I brought the DPO of B division and DPO of central police station Awka to come to Aroma and clear the mess going on.

“My interest is free traffic so that the cultists will not come here and continue to be killing people. It is an embarrassment to state and the government. I will do everything to sustain this development no matter the cost. I have sent the numbers of those cultists to government and appropriate authorities and if the government allow them to kill me, so be it, but Anambra must be good and habitable.”