Commercial tricyclists within Warri and Edjeba Delta State are speaking out against alleged harassment by the police and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO). The riders claim that these agencies are extorting them under false pretenses, with some officers setting traps to collect money from them.
According to the tricyclists, the police and VIO are not doing their jobs diligently and are instead focused on generating revenue through bribes.
Police and VIO officers are allegedly extorting money from tricyclists, often accusing them of violating traffic rules or operating without proper documentation.
Riders are forced to pay various levies, including daily ticket fees of ₦300, which they claim adds up to a significant amount over time.
The price of tricycles has also skyrocketed, with some riders paying between ₦4.5 million to ₦7 million for a vehicle.
The tricyclists’ union is allegedly forcing riders to buy baskets, aprons, and identity cards, equipments which the riders see as unnecessary and burdensome. “Even if they don’t reduce the ₦300 ticket, they should cancel the basket and apron plan.
That’s just another burden.” A man named Mr Benson Henry who started riding 2018 complained.
“VIO and the yellow-fever police are not doing their job diligently. They set traps to collect money from us as though we are looting millions.
Government should remove them from the road.” Mr Michael Lagosman another riders who daily plies different routes voiced out.
The Delta State Government has been urged to intervene in the matter, with some indications that the government may suspend levies imposed on commercial tricyclists. In a previous instance, the Delta State Commissioner for Transport directed the leadership of the tricycle riders’ union to halt the collection of all forms of levies from commercial tricyclists until further notice
The tricyclists are appealing to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori lower the cost of daily tickets and eliminate unnecessary levies, take action against police and VIO officers who are extorting money from tricyclists and also there are calls for intervention in the pricing of tricycles to make them more affordable for riders.
