By Ifeizu Joe
On Thursday, I saw the rare type of policing, and the man at the centre of it was the DPO of ‘B’ Division in Awka. He is CSP Uche Noah.
I went to the division to cover a protest by operators of Keke NAPEP in Awka. They had complained that operatives of the division were extorting them, with the excuse of their members not having driver license and proper documentation for their tricycles.
For the Keke Riders, their problem is not that police demands those items from them, but the fact that a mere N100 bribe can set the rider free, while refusal can lead to the arrest and impoundment of their tricycles.
The peaceful protest which was organized by the leadership of Anambra Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF) drew several members from all across Awka, and they quickly blocked the roads, in and out of the state secretariat where the B Division police station is located.
Early efforts by some police officers to bully the riders into leaving the road failed, but a timely intervention came when CSP Uche Noah requested a parley with the leadership of the union. Being a curious journalist, I embedded myself in the leadership of the union and entered Noah’s office for the parley.
At first look, Noah, a young and handsome police officer, fair in complexion, appeared a debonair personality, who is in tune with modern fashion too, and was dressed in an Ankara sewn trouser, with a matching cap from same material, a black long sleeve shirt with rolled up sleeves. He had a huge beaded necklace with matching handband that tells his fashion consciousness. He truly looked boyish, but beneath that boyish look is a compassion that I doubted could come from a policeman.
He settled down in a chair and heard the long complaints of the impoundment of Keke by operatives of his division over refusal to give bribe.
Chairman of Anambra Keke Riders Forum (AKDF), Mr Ifeanyi Okafor who led members on the protest said their members were being arrested and their tricycles impounded over lack of drivers license, especially when they refuse to give bribe to policemen on duty.
Also, the Coordinator of the group, Comrade Osita Obi who stumbled on the meeting also added that it was unwise for police to be arresting operators for drivers license, while the state revenue agents are also after them for riders permit. He said it amounted to proliferation of taxes.
With all the allegations, I expected to see a rash police officer react, but after listening to the complaints, Noah simply reacted that the whole essence of the visit could have been solved with just a phone call to him.
He insisted that the leadership of the union could have resolved the entire problem by just putting a phone call to him, rather than pausing their very important duties to come on a protest.
“The work you do is essential to society. As you are here now, many people are out there looking for Keke to enter to various locations and they are stranded. Even you who is here, you are losing money too. If there are things our operatives are not doing right, you should have reached me.”
He however insisted that there was need for Keke operators to have documents of their tricycles saying: “Our men are on the road so that you can operate. There have been cases where your keke have been stolen by armed robbers, so it is through asking for particulars that we know they are stolen. Even when we recover it, we will need you to show proof that you are the owner.
“Right now, we have a Keke in this station that was recovered and three people are laying claims to it. Without documents, how do we know who truly owns it?”
CSP Uche Noah went forward to match words with action by ordering the release of tricycles impounded by operatives of the division. He did not stop at that but asked the leadership of the union to save their members the troubles of shutting down business next time to come on a peaceful protest for trivial matter, but insisted that just a phone call could resolve such problems and save everyone all the headache.
Watching from my small corner, I saw how much joy the tricyclists had with such kind words. The release of tricycles held was even a bigger joy to them.
After watching these, we at THE RAZOR feel a depth of thanks to CSP Uche Noah. Everything can not be resolved with force. Some operatives of the division had already started warning the tricyclists for blocking the road, threatening fire and brimstone, with their fingers on the trigger of their rifles. One of the officer had hollowed at the protesters “if e set, na una go run ooo”, but with kind words, the issues were resolved and everyone smiled home.
In a police force where there is lack of trust and credibility, we feel compelled to praise the officer, and state that there is need for more Uche Noahs in the Nigerian Police Force. We urge him to keep the light glowing.
