Keke Operators, Entraco Officers At War .Over Indiscriminate Removal of Tarpaulin

By Onyekachi Eze

Some Owerri based Keke Operators, Friday, besieged ENTRACO Office, along Owerri-Okigwe road, to protest the indiscriminate removal of tarpaulin in their tricycles designed to protest passengers from harsh weather conditions.

Trumpeta, who witnessed the crisis, observed that men of ENTRACO and some keke riders engaged in a face-off and this caused serious traffic logjam along the busy road.

Speaking to journalists in Owerri, the Provost of Imo Keke Riders Association, one Mr Ebirim, said they are carrying out the instruction of His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to dismantle tarpaulin found in any keke plying the streets and roads of Owerri.

According to him, reasons behind the Governor’s instruction were as a result of the incessant cases of kidnapping and robbery witnessed in the state. He said most of the kidnappers hide themselves under the shield of the keke tarpaulin, thereby covering their faces against recognition.

Speaking further, Mr Ebirim solicited to the keke riders not to take offence with him as he is just carrying out an assignment assigned to him and ENTRACO workers by the Governor.

Reacting, some of the keke riders lamented bitterly over the destruction of their only source of livelihood and also asked the Governor to always give pre-information to them in the future.