We are not responsible for Enugu killings, says tricycle riders

Tricycle riders, popularly known as Keke in Enugu State said they were not responsible for recent killings in the state.

They made the disclosure in Enugu on Friday while reacting to ban of tricycles in some parts of the state.

They said the ban was "a deliberate act to frustrate them".

Some of them, who spoke to the correspondent said they were not responsible for the security challenges facing the state in recent times.

According to them, most of the attacks were perpetrated using private cars, others, and not tricycles.

A tricycle rider, Mr Francis Udeh said he received the news of the ban of tricycles in some communities in Enugu State with great shock.

He wondered why some of their colleagues were banned from operating while they were not the ones tagged as unknown gunmen that had been terrorising people in the state.

"This is just calling a dog a bad name in order to kill it; government should stop chasing shadows but face reality," he said.

Another tricycle operator, Emmanuel Uche said the Keke business was his only means of livelihood, and banning it means bringing hardship to his family.

He said he never used his tricycle for any other things apart from doing legitimate business, saying that it was wrong for the government to stop people from using what they had to feed their families.

"If they stop us, crime will double as many of the tricycle riders will engage in some criminal activities.

"Government needs to put adequate security measures in place to contain the excesses of some youths in the state, rather than punishing tricycle riders.

"Many of us and our families depend on the income from the Keke business," he said.

He appealed to Gov. Ugwuanyi to rescind his decision as it would bring more hardship to the people.

Another tricycle rider, Mr Amos Ugwu described the restriction as a big joke, stressing that there was no security in place to enforce it.

According to him, the police are even hiding and none of them will risk his life trying to enforce the order.

"The government is simply insensitive because they fail to put the people they are serving into consideration.

"Those people living in those communities, will they trek to town or how will they come out"? He asked.

Supreme reports that Enugu State Government had on Feb. 25 banned the operations of tricycles, motorcycles, and tipper-trucks in Nkanu East and West Local Governments, as well as some selected communities in Enugu South Local Government.

The decision to ban the operations of the tricycles, motorcycles, and tipper-trucks, the government said was sequel to an emergency Security Council meeting held at the state government house, on Thursday.

The Enugu State Government in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Simon Ortuanya, said the measure was taken following the recent spike in insecurity in parts of the state and Executive Order No.1: 2022, dated Feb. 24.

The state government enjoined members of the public to comply with the order as the security agencies in the state had been directed to enforce it, forthwith.

"There will be no operation of tricycles, motorcycles, and tipper-trucks in all the communities of Nkanu East, Nkanu West Local Government Areas.

"Also, in Amechi Uno, Amechi Awkunanaw, Amechi Uwani, Obeagu Main, Obeagu Uno, Centenary City/Obunagu, Obeagu, One day, Garki, Akwuke, Ugwuaji, Ndiagu Onunyo, Maryland, Ikiriki, all in Enugu South LGA," the statement added.