The Rivers State Task Force on Illegal Trading, Markets and Motor Parks led by DSP Felix Nwadibeyi (rtd) appears to have struck equilibrium with public on how to go about their duties, silently achieving set goals without hurting the residents.
Speaking with newsmen over the weekend in Port Harcourt, the coordinator said as a new improved taskforce with new members and mandate, there was need for them to avoid the loopholes of its predecessor in office.
According to him, “when the taskforce members approach an offender, they politely inform the person on the need not to trade at an illegal point”.
He said even if their properties are seized, we won’t destroy any of them but only to caution and release the properties later.
The coordinator said it is only when the offenders goes back to commit the same offence that the taskforce will be forced to demolish the illegal shade that provides accommodation for them.
Mr. Felix Nwadibeyi again said that the taskforce would not ambush any traders or mechanics for the purposes of seizing their wares and force the offenders to pay fines at exhorbitant fee as was alleged against the former taskforce members.
He categorically frowned at the street traders especially the vendors who use various sizes of umbrellas to provide shelters thereby destroying the esthetics of the city.
On how he was able to achieve this feat in such a short period of operation, the coordinator said it is a matter of understanding with the public.
“He said that offenders needed not much appeal and persuasion to their conscience for them to comply, adding that is not a matter of one forcing the traders to comply and when you leave they will be forced to rush back to their former stand”.
Asked to explain the reduction in the frequent friction between the offenders and the security operatives attached to the taskforce, the coordinator said they apply wisdom in handling them while the recalcitrant ones are promptly handed over to the nearest police station for prosecution.
Consequently, he noted that, “our mandate of keeping the streets clean has been achieved without much friction as a matter of approach,” he stressed.
He said that besides, there is room for immediate firing of any offending member of the taskforce without much ado noting that all these would help to put them in check.
“The two sessions will operate equally, help us to eliminate fatigue that could cause frustration and temptation of extortion”, he said.
