Drama Looms As Angry Tricycle Operators In Delta Protest Alleged Extortion By Council Boss, Governor

Several angry commercial tricycle operators in their hundreds have staged a protest in Delta State.

The operators, on Saturday staged a warning protest over alleged extortion by touts in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

The tricycle operators held the protest at Jigbale market and blocked the road leading to Orhunwhorhun Community, bearing placards.

They accused the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and the Udu Council Chairman of allegedly imposing outrageous levies on them.

One of the commercial tricycle operators Anthony Igbebe who spoke with our correspondent said the protest is a warning to the Delta State Government to address the issues raised.

He said the failure of which, they will block the Udu main bridge and deny every access through the area by Monday, July 17.

“By the time 10,000 workers are affected by Monday, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will come here.”

Igbebe also appealed to the state Governor to expand the road so that commercial tricycle operators, motorcycle operators and other road users can park very well to avoid extortion.

Another tricycle operator, Azubuike Alu said the union can no longer face the molestation by touts, saying the Udu Council Chairman and Governor have not been fair to them with the alleged extortion of levies.

Another commercial tricycle operator identified as John said they all came out in the protest because they heard that the Council boss planned to ban their operations in the area.

However, the Chairman of the Delta State branch of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Peter Edariese was on hand to douse the tension to avoid the destruction of properties by hoodlums.

While addressing the protesters, Edariese charged them to be law-abiding and not resort to the destruction of properties in the area.

Noting that they have the right to freedom of protest, Edariese said, “don’t be disorderly and destructive.”