Hoodlums have infiltrated our ranks, unions allege
The Enugu State government, yesterday, lifted ban on operators of tricycles, motorcycles, as well as tippers and trucks in Nkanu East, Nkanu West councils and some communities in Enugu South Council.

The ban, which government announced on Thursday, February 24, 2022, followed rising insecurity in the council areas, especially the attacks on voters during the council elections in which some persons were killed and others injured, while electoral materials were lost.

It was learnt that the state government decided to sanction the operators after discovering that some of them assisting gunmen in their areas, just as they were being used to supply arms and food items to their various hideouts.

The ban was lifted after a security meeting with leaders of the Association of Tricycle Riders Transport Union (ATRTU), Motorcycle Transport Union (MTU) and Nkanu East/West branches of the Tipper Union of Nigeria (TUN).

State Chairman of ATRTU, Comrade Benjamin Ikah, who spoke to reporters after the meeting, agreed that hoodlums were hiding under the associations to perpetrate criminal activities to tarnish their image.

Ikah, who was accompanied by the President TUN, Nweke Andrew and Chairman of MTU, Chika Nweze, stated that the lifting of the ban followed an appeal to the governor, asking him to tamper justice with mercy.

MEANWHILE, ATRTU branches in Nkanu East and West and the state chapter of TUN have insisted that hoodlums have infiltrated the associations to perpetrate criminal activities in the state.

They also disclosed that there were some bad eggs and criminal elements among them, who are using their means of livelihood for criminal activities to the detriment of their image and fortunes.

Leaders of the associations made the revelation during a security meeting with Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday, following the recent ban on their operations, especially in Nkanu East and Nkanu West council and select areas in Enugu South Council, where the governor lifted the restriction at the meeting.