Tricycle Operators Embarks On A Protest Over Extortion By The Nigerian Police

The Members of the tricycle operators’ association in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, has embarked on a protest over allegations of extortion by men of the Nigeria Police Force, a situation which brought activities in Maiduguri to a standstill.

The protesters, whose demonstration caused traffic jam along major roads in the Borno state capital, are demanding that the police must be impressed upon to stop unnecessary extortion of their members.

The tricycle riders, popularly called Keke operators, said they embarked on a peaceful protest by boycotting operations Monday along Baga road, and other major roads following the continued “harassment, intimidation and extortion” they face at the hands of men of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to Umar Usman, a tricycle operator in Maiduguri, some uniform personnel even arrested them and took them to the police station when they refused to give them money.

He said, “A lot of our members have been complaining since and nothing was done about it because they make this extortion to look legal. Our leaders have been reporting these bad incidents to police authorities but they have not been able to make their people stop it.”

Meanwhile, the police were yet to issue an official statement as regards the protest as of the time of this report.