Success Nwanedo
The Rivers State Taskforce on Street Trading and Illegal Motor Parks has resumed duties in various parts of the state after two months.
Recall that the taskforce had suspended duties after its official allegedly killed a taxi driver, Simeon Ihearulam, at the Rumuokoro axis of Port Harcourt.
The incident generated reactions from various quarters including organisations, civil society organizations, political parties, and human rights groups.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state had also called for the immediate disbandment of the taskforce and the arrest, and prosecution of all the officers involved in the unfortunate incident that took a life.
“We believe that the act is shameful; that the man who left his wife and five children at home for his lawful business will meet his untimely death in the hands of a vicious task force that has a terrible history of the destruction of goods and properties, maiming and even killing, in this instance, of innocent road users,” APC stated.
But, in a statement at the weekend, the Chairman of the state taskforce, DSP Felix Nwadibeyi said the break was due to management issues that have been successfully resolved.
He noted that the task force had nothing to do with the death of the driver at the Rumuokoro axis of Port Harcourt.
Nwadibeyi warned street traders and those operating illegal motor parks to do what is right in order to not be found as defaulters.
Meanwhile, mixed reactions have trailed the resumption of the task force in the state.
