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From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
Seven people were reportedly injured and eleven tricycles destroyed when some commerial tricyclists clashed with the Anambra State anti-tout squad in Awka, the state capital.
The anti-tout squad it was gathered allegedly stormed Unizik keke loading pit and brutalised seven members of Anambra keke drivers’ forum, (AKDF).
One of the victims who spoke to our correspondent, Enerst Iwunor said the anti-tout squad allegedly came in a commando way and started beating and shooting sporadically.
Iwunor said said that park in question was a government approved private Park where every Keke ridder is expected to pay N200 everyday as service charge.
“When they came inside the park, we told them that we are Keke drivers not touts. They said they came with three Keke drivers who claimed they are touts in our pit collecting money. We told them no, they are not touts but Keke drivers. They descended on us and started beating everybody at the park.”
“They were shooting guns like if they were confronting armed robbers. They also used knife to attack some of us. In the process of attacking us they broke 11 windscreen of tricycles, injured more than eight drivers and took some of our members to their office in onitsha. Four of the brutalized persons are still in the hospital now.”
He called on Anambra state government to urgently call the squad to order to avoid further harassment of Keke drivers in the state, adding that they pay their taxes as and when due.
However, when contacted, the coordinator of Anambra State anti-tout squad, Salomon Chukwuebuka said they were on normal patrol and ran into some touts extorting money from motorists and they gave them hot chase and the touts ran into the park.
According to him, when they ran into the park, the operatives followed them and the Keke Ridders allegedly started attacking them.
“We were not looking for the Keke drivers, rather touts whom we met at the place collecting money from them. When we reached the place, they stopped us because we came in two Keke and two of the touts demanded for money and we arrested one and the second person ran into the park and we followed him into the park, they started attacking us with bottles.”
“It was their attack that made us call for reinforcement. I led the operation, they attacked us with bottles and hit one of my men with stick and he fell down.”
