How ARTMA, SASA are intimidating, harassing drivers in Anambra


Titus Maduako Eleweke

Anambra State Drivers have lamented the inhuman treatments,
Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA),and
Anambra Special Anti-Touting Squad (SASA) are subjecting them.
ARTMA and SASA on Saturday stormed TRACAS bus stop Onitsha, attacked drivers and seized their vehicles accusing them of obstructions.

One of the victims, a 70 years old, Mr Aloy Obi told our correspodent that the two government agencies attacked them at TRACAS bus stop and seized their vehicles without commiting any offence.
According to him, he was parked at an approved bus stop without causing any obstruction when the men of Anambra State swop on them and started beating them like a common criminals.

"I was not parking wrongly at an approved bus stop and I don't know why they beat me up and others for commiting no offence. My vehicle is registered to ply this route. I have been paying all my levies and taxes to government as at when due " he stated .
He said that they are are unjustly suffering in the hands of ARTMA and SASA in the state.
He called on the governor to intervene and save them from intimidation from Anti Touts squad and ARTMA in the state .
Another of bus drivers in Onitsha, Mr Iyke Okoro described the action of ARTMA and SASA as barbaric, inhuman and unacceptable in a sane clime.
According to him, those brutalized drivers were at an approved, TRACAS park in onitsha and were rightly parked without causing any traffic hold up.
He called on governor Prof Charles Soludo to look into the matter as it is unfair and unacceptable for ARTMA and SASA to continue to terrorise innocent and law abiding citizens in the state in the name of decongestion.
"One of the man beaten up by these men is a 70 years old man who drives a shuttle bus as a means of feeding his family. These drivers are beaten at an approved bus stop by the government . They parked at the place because it is a bus stop and they were not causing obstruction, " he stated .
According to him, the ARTMA should arrest those who commit offence and not storming approved park and arresting every body just to extort money .
He said that those who committed offence should be arrested to serve as deterant to those parking wrongly and not intimidating every body because they do not have anybody to speak for them .
According to him, ARTMA is colluding with the state Anti Touts squad to extort money from the drivers .
"When they arrest any driver they will take him to their office and demand for N50,000 against the governor's directive of N5000.
The governor had promised us that he will established drivers management committee and untill now nothing has happened and they don't know whom to turn to in this kind of of situation " he lamented.
The Convener of Keke and Bus Drivers in Anambra Comrade Osita Obi queried the rationale of Anti Touts squad with bus drivers .

According to him, Anti Touts squad is for the touts terrorising the state and extorting money from innocent citizens and not for drivers .
The Managing Director of ARTMA Mr Emeka Okonkwo said that a video of the enforcement was clearly posted on WhatApps and there was no atom of violence or rough handling in the video.

According to him,he had severally visited that particular area to educate the drivers and their representatives.

" In as much as we want you all to operate seamlessly in Anambra state, we also urge you to do the right things so other roadusers can have right of way too" he stated