Keke NAPEP operator beaten for obeying Gov Soludo’s order not to pay money to touts
A commercial tricycle operator was on Sunday, March 20, severely beaten by a group of touts for refusing to pay cash to them.
Recall that the new governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo banned the collection of money by touts in the state during his inauguration.
Governor Soludo directed that commercial vehicle operators, including tricycle and motorcycles, should no longer pay cash to touts operating in the name of revenue generation across the state. According to him, an acceptable system of revenue collection would be put in place to ensure that people were not unduly taxed. In most towns in the state, touts print illegal tickets which they use to collect money from drivers.
According to eyewitnesses, the touts who attacked the motorcycle operator were three in number. They accosted the Keke driver at the park close to the popular UNIZIK junction and demanded the normal N200 fee before he could commence the day’s business.
The driver however told them that he heard the new governor warning people not to pay cash to anybody henceforth. He reportedly told them to go and look for something else to do, as ‘being a tout’ had expired in Anambra State.
The touts reportedly told the man that Soludo had just come and did not know what obtained. They warned him they would descend on him if he did not pay up.
It was learnt that when the driver remained adamant, they seized his back seat and later proceeded to beat him till he fell down.
