Save us from touts, commuter bus operators beg Anambra CP

Bus Drivers and Owners Welfare Association, Anambra chapter, has appealed to the police to protect them and their business from touts and illegal toll collectors in the state.
The leadership of the association made the request when they visited the Commissioner of Police in the state, Garba Umar, at the Command’s Headquarters, Amawbia, in Awka South Local Government Area on Wednesday.
The Chairman of the Association, Obinna Anisiobi, said members of the union were passing through all forms of fear, intimidation and molestation by hoodlums who disguised as motor park managers.
Anisiobi said: “We request your support to enable us to operate as a corporate body; it will no doubt help us to operate effectively without fear of intimidation and molestation by people who feel that road transport business in Anambra is their private property.
“We want you to liaise with our leadership before the arrest of any of our members is carried out by rival associations who may write frivolous petitions to frustrate us from operating in the state.
“It is our hope that this working relationship between us will be sustained in the interest of all stakeholders and incorporated trustees of our association.”
Peter Okpala, patron of the association, pledged the cooperation of his members with the police on security through information sharing.
Okpala also said that the association would be ready to provide logistics for the police any time the need arose.
He said: “We shall cooperate with all security agencies by volunteering relevant information to the agencies for effective security of the state.”
The commissioner lauded the association for their high level organisation and promised to work harmoniously with them.
He urged the association to provide information on criminal activities in the parks and on roads to enable the police to fight crime more effectively.
He assured them of the protection of the police provided they operated within the law and encouraged them to feel free to reach him in times of need.