By CHRISTIAN NJOKU

Tricycle operators on Thursday, picketed the streets of Calabar metropolis to protest alleged extortion, multiple taxation and harassment by ticket agents and task force groups.

The tricycle operators, popularly known as “Keke Riders” said that they were being compelled to pay unexplained levies at different locations within the city.

One of them, Mr Johnson Obi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were forced to buy multiple tickets from sanitation, local government and union agents.

“Some of the tickets expire within hours. The tickets are too many, riders purchase up to six or seven different tickets daily,” he said.

Obi further said that tricycle operators were compelled to even buy ‘burial tickets’ issued through union channels, saying, “defaulters risk having their tricycles seized”

Another riders, Mr Emmanuel Asuquo, told NAN during the protest that some groups controlling passenger loading points collected taxes from operators.

He said that riders who refused to comply were often prevented from operating in certain areas.

“It is even annoying that some of the groups collecting these taxes are linked to non-government groups,” he said.

He urged the state government to investigate the activities of those involved in illegal collection of taxes from tricycle operators in the state.

When contacted, Mr Ekpenyong Akiba, the Special Adviser to the governor on General Duties, commended the operators for conducting themselves peacefully during protest.

Akiba said that the government had taken note of their complaints, and would present the issues to the governor for action.

He announced an immediate suspension of all ticketing and task force activities affecting tricycle operators pending further directive from the state government.

Akiba also invited representatives of the tricycle operators to a meeting with officials of the state government.

NAN recalls that only recently, commercial bus drivers in Calabar embarked on a similar protest. (NAN)

•PHOTO: Protesting tricycle operators around the Cultural Centre Junction with police officers trying to maintain law and order