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Following rampant cases of kidnappings and criminal activities involving taxi cabs in Oyo State, Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Oyo state Chapter, Alhaji Taofeek Ayorinde a.k.a ‘Fele’ had issued new directives to commercial drivers in the state.
Fele while addressing the journalists on shortly after a meeting he had with members of the Road Transport Workers held at the state Secretariat, in Olomi Ibadan, said it was now an offence for anybody to use vehicles for commecial purposes without due registration or painting in official colour as directed by the state government.
He said reports of kidnapping by criminal drivers for theft and rituals has reached the state executive and that the union is poised to rid itself of criminal elements.
According to him, people in the state should look out for commercial vehicles with official painting of white with blue stripes and as well report any suspicious activities to the police.
He said though complaints are mostly on mini taxis commonly called Micra attention of the union is also towards other vehicles especially those used for inter-state transportation.
He said the new directives are in line with the effort of the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to rid the state of all criminal activities in order to make peace reign.
He added that official painting of Oyo state commercial vehicles enable the union to identify perpetrators of the criminal acts from others states in the federation.
He noted that the decision is already yielding positive results as task force had so far arrested some defiant drivers and have handed them over to the police.