RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS WHILE ENFORCING BAN ON KEKE, OKADA & TIPPER — ENUGU CP TELLS POLICEMEN
REPORTER: CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Mr. Abubakar Lawal, has ordered Area Commanders in Agbani and Enugu, as well as the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Nkanu East and Nkanu West Local Government Areas to ensure strict enforcement of the ban on commercial tricycles (Keke), motorcycles (Okada) and tipper trucks operations in those areas, by the State Government.
The Police Commissioner also directed neighborhood watch groups in affected communities in Enugu South Local Government Area to enforce the ban.
In a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Daniel Ndukwe Ekea, the Police Commissioner encourage those affected by the ban to comply and directed policemen enforcing the order to respect fundamental human rights.
“The Commissioner, while cautioning Police Operatives of the Command to respect the fundamental human rights of citizens in the course of carrying out the enforcement, has urged those affected by the ban to comply in order to avoid any form of misunderstanding between them and Police Operatives performing the enforcement duty,” the statement noted.
Recall that Enugu State Government had on February 24, 2022 banned operations of commercial tricycle popularly known as Keke; motorcycles, otherwise known as Okada and tipper trucks in Nkanu East and Nkanu West Local Government Areas.
The ban also extended to some communities in Enugu South Local Government Area, including Amechi Uno, Amechi Awkunanaw and Amechi Uwani.
Others include Obeagu Main, Obeagu Uno, Centenary/Obunagu, Obeagu, One-day, Garriki, Akwukwe, Ugwuaji, Ndiagu Onunyo, Maryland and Ikiriki communities/neighborhoods.
The ban, the Government stated, is following the emergency Security Council meeting held at the State Government House and Executive Order No. 1: 2022 dated February 24, 2022, aimed at containing recent security challenges in parts of the State.
The statement enjoined residents of Enugu State to remain vigilant, law-abiding and assist the Command with useful and timely security information/intelligence to tackle the activities of criminal elements frontally.