Anambra Keke Drivers Protest ,Demand Ban of UHBET Over Alleged Extortion
The Anambra State Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF) on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Awka South Local Government Secretariat, decrying what they described as the continuous extortion of their members by operatives of the Unified Hybrid Enforcement Team (UHBET).
In a video currently circulating on social media, the protesting Keke (tricycle) drivers accused UHBET officials of operating beyond their legal mandate. Rather than focusing on tax compliance, which they claim is UHBET’s constitutional responsibility, the group is allegedly involved in unlawful vehicle inspections , a function reserved for security agencies.
According to the protesters, UHBET has transformed into a pseudo-security outfit, stopping tricycles to check vehicle particulars under the pretense of law enforcement.
They argue this is nothing more than a strategy to exploit and extort commercial drivers.
The drivers insist they are not tax defaulters and fulfill their financial obligations to the state government as required by law.
“UHBET has no legal authority to check vehicle particulars. They are not police officers, FRSC personnel, or any kind of recognized law enforcement agency,” “They are nothing but disguised touts wearing government-issued uniforms. We pay our taxes diligently ,we owe the government nothing.”one protester said in the video.
The protesters further claimed that many UHBET operatives are former touts who have now found a new avenue for extortion under the guise of state employment.
They called on Governor Charles Soludo to disband UHBET, stating that they believe he never authorized the group to perform vehicle inspections or extort money from transport operators.
“Soludo is our governor, and we trust that he would never support this criminal behavior,”
“We are calling on him to immediately ban UHBET from operating on the roads. Their presence is a source of daily harassment, and their activities are illegal.”another protester said.
The protest reflects growing frustration among commercial tricycle operators in Anambra State, many of whom claim that UHBET’s actions are negatively impacting their livelihoods and creating an atmosphere of fear and exploitation on the roads.
