The Imo State Committee against Tinted Commercial Bus (Keke bus) operators have apprehended a suspected ‘one chance’ criminal in Owerri.
The committee, which commenced the crackdown on tinted commercial buses on Monday, successfully apprehended the suspect whose identity is withheld, after law enforcement officials observed suspicious conduct and found that his vehicle had tinted windows.
This arrest comes days after the Imo State Government launched a special committee to carry out the directives of the governor to tackle the growing menace of “one chance” operators and other criminal elements who often use tinted-glass commercial buses and vehicles with covered number plates.
Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo, the Honourable Commissioner for Transport, during the event hailed the vigilance of the task force and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to flushing out criminal actors using the public transport system as cover.
“This arrest is just the beginning. Imo State is no longer a safe haven for those who hide behind tinted glass and covered number plates to commit crime.
“We are going after them, one by one,” Okoronkwo affirmed
Also, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, the head of the committee and special adviser to the governor on monitoring and compliance, admonished all Imo residents to remain alert and report any suspicious commercial vehicles, especially those with tinted windows or no visible plate numbers, to the nearest law enforcement agency.
“We are urging our people: do not board any bus or keke-bus with tinted windows or covered plate numbers.
“Be vigilant. Help us help you stay safe,” Nwaneri added.