By Austin Ejimadu
An Okada man has been arrested by men of the Special Squad, Owerri Urban Police Command Division for violating the order by the state government not to ply on some major roads in Owerri, Imo state capital.
The arrest which occurred on Tuesday morning along Wetheral road extension adjacent to the traffic roundabout axis.
One of the eyewitnesses who spoke to Imo Trumpeta on condition of anonymity said prior to the arrest of the man fellow Okada riders have flooded the spot, trying to rescue their colleague but could not succeed because they were scared for fear of being shut by the policemen who pointed guns at them.
The eyewitness also said that the Okada riders who were fifteen (15) in number were fuming and threatening to beat up a Keke operator for spearheading the arrest of their colleague but was luckily saved by the quick intervention of other policemen who were coming behind with a Hilux van.
If not for their assistance, the helpless Keke man would have received serious beating from the Okada operators, he said.
He however, recalled that similar incident has occurred sometime ago on the same Wetheral road extension and on same spot, commenting on why the Okada riders still persist on plying the route despite state governments directive not to operate on Wetheral road axis, he said they ply the road because of the huge economic benefit they derive from passengers on the spot especially from students of Federal Polytechnic Nekede.
