By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
Tricycle operators, commonly known as Keke drivers, on Tuesday morning, took to the gates of Alex Ekweme Federal University in Ikwo to demand the reinstatement of their service within the university premises.
The protest, led by hundreds of Keke drivers, effectively blocked the institution’s main entrance for more than three hours, disrupting academic activities. The drivers called upon the university’s management to lift the ban that had been imposed on their activities.
The ban on tricycles operating within the campus was put in place by the institution’s management in response to a recent incident in which a lecturer was reportedly assaulted by one of the Keke drivers.
However, the youth leader of the community, Comr. Friday Igwe, who spearheaded the protest, totally denied any such occurrence. He revealed that despite their efforts to understand the reasons behind the ban, the school’s management had not provided satisfactory explanations, hence their decision to protest.
Comr. Igwe emphasized that many of the Keke drivers are local residents of the host community, asserting their right to operate on the campus. He stated, “This Keke is our only source of livelihood, and the ban has inflicted unnecessary hardship on us. We urge the school management to lift the ban.”
Addressing the protesters, John Ekpe, the Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, assured the drivers that their concerns would be thoroughly examined and considered.