Commercial tricycle operators in Warri on Wednesday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR), alleging harassment, extortion and unlawful arrests by police officers operating across the area.
The demonstrators gathered at the licensing office and temporarily blocked one lane of the airport road while displaying placards and chanting solidarity songs to draw attention to their complaints.
Protesters claimed that despite obtaining vehicle registration and number plates through government channels, some police officers continued to question the legitimacy of their documents and detain riders on the road.
Messages displayed during the demonstration included demands for clarification from licensing authorities over why some plate numbers were allegedly not appearing in official records, as well as calls for authorities to address what the riders described as persistent enforcement pressure.
Several riders alleged that operators were being compelled to make payments of up to N10,000 during encounters with officers. These allegations were not independently verified, and no official police response was included in the original report.
One protester who identified himself as a member of the Eyekpimi family in Okere-Urhobo community argued that if irregularities existed in vehicle documentation, investigations should focus on the offices responsible for issuing registration materials rather than targeting operators.
Another rider, Jeffery Awhe Akioja, claimed tricycle operators already face multiple operating costs and said many purchased their vehicles through hire-purchase arrangements valued at between N8 million and N9 million.
A separate protester, Wisdom Omoteh, alleged that he was stopped despite presenting what he described as complete vehicle documents and was questioned over issues relating to his number plate.
The protesters appealed to Delta State authorities, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to intervene and review the situation. They warned that unresolved grievances could escalate if relevant agencies fail to address their concerns.
As of the time of the report, there was no official response from the police or licensing authorities regarding the allegations raised during the protest.
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